We’re beginning to see a pattern here. Although the actual tax rate has not increased, many of of us will be paying more in taxes next year. Earlier this week, with the passage of the health care bill from the house, the Democrats managed to cram through a tax-hike-that-isnt’-a-tax-hike that directly targets middle- and lower-class Americans. How you ask? If the bill passes, the tax bracket you belong to will no longer adjust for inflation.

This, honestly, is such a tiny thing that it should be well beneath our notice. We aren’t arguing legislation here, we’re name calling. We aren’t talking about character issues or foreign policy. This isn’t scandal most juicy. This isn’t a debate. There’s nothing at stake. There is, in short, nothing worth mentioning.

But here we are. This is what we choose to spend our time with. This is how we conduct ourselves. This is how we behave. These are the things that are important to us and occupy our time.

This is the third installment of my new weekly news round up column and – not surprisingly – the third week in a row that the health care reform debate and Cheating Charlie Rangel take center stage.

Here’s my challenge to the people who claim HR3200 will be self-funding: Assuming the bill only costs $900 billion, itemize the various plans you have for funding the project and outline exactly how this bill will be paid for. For extra credit, explain to me why these cost-saving measures can only be made by passing HR3200 or why you’ve decided to squander tax payer dollars by ignoring these fixes until now.

Tonight Obama gave a speech in which he declared that he would not sign a health care bill that increased the size of the deficit. It’s good to see that we finally have a President that can admit he’s made a mistake and back down from a debate.

… okay, so I’m poking fun of him. He did say he wouldn’t sign such a bill, but unless he’s just completely insane, that’s exactly what he’s planning to do.