The Emperor’s New Clothes

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Posted by Carol Paris, MD on Friday, Nov 27, 2009

In the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes, two weavers promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes invisible to those unfit for their positions or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, they all pretend they see the new finery, fearing exposure as the incompetents that they are. It takes a child to cry out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!”

As the Democratic Party races to claim a “health insurance reform” victory before the Christmas recess, I am reminded of this cautionary tale.

In place of the invisible clothes, we have the invisible reforms. In place of the weavers, we have the lobbyists. In place of the loyal subjects, we have the members of the Progressive Caucus. And in place of the child, we have all the Single Payer Advocates.

Please, President Obama, DON’T be that Emperor.

Dr. Paris is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program

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