Dear Democratic Supporters of the health care bills:

You do realize you're supporting putting Republicans in charge of health care, right?

Oh, sure, not this year or next. But it's only a matter of time until Republicans can pass bills again. Whether 2011, 2013, or 2017 or beyond, sooner or later it's going to be the Republicans in control of at least one house, the Presidency, and in pretty good shape in the other house. The wheel turns, the pendulum swings. It is not a question of "if", it's a question of "when". And when that happens, the Republicans will be in charge of your health care.

The odds of this happening before the bill has even been in effect very long are distressingly good. Most of the bill's provisions kick in during 2013. (Well, the non-tax provisions; we pay for a long time before we get anything significant.) The odds of the Republicans having a solid house majority, a respectable Senate presence, and the Presidency in 2013 are definitely not zero.

Are you sure this is such a good idea? Because I guarantee the Republicans won't just cancel the bill and return to the current status quo. Maybe a hypothetical Tea Party would, but those Republicans are going to be just as happy as Democrats are to be in control of your health care.

And they will be. Full control. Probably with no non-Republican-controlled healthcare available in the country.

Are you really sure this is such a good idea?