Phyrrhic Victories

Pyrrhus was a king of Epirus, one of the city-states of ancient Greece during the Hellenistic period. He was considered one of the greatest generals of the ancient world. He led armies in wars against both Carthage and Rome, the two major powers in the Mediterranean at that time.

Invited in by Italian cities revolting against the growing power of Rome, in 275 BC he led a combined Greek and Macedonian army against Roman forces on the Italian peninsula itself.

In 279 BC, his army met a Roman army at the battle of Asculum. The Romans suffered losses of over 6000 men, while Pyrrhus lost only 3000 soldiers. The Roman legions were pushed off the field of battle, leaving Pyrrhus in possession of the ground. Tactically, Pyrrhus had won the fight.

But the Roman losses could be replaced with fresh recruits. Pyrrhus, operating far from his base of operations, could not replace his losses. Strategically, the loss at Asculum had weakened Pyrrhus more than it had Rome.

Knowing this, when a subordinate attempted to congratulate Pyrrhus on the victory, he was heard to say “Another such victory and we are undone.”

What has this story got to do with the health insurance reform bill passed by the Senate last week?

Well, the legislation passed the Senate on a straight party line vote. Not a single Republican senator could be induced to break ranks to vote for it, and we know that the inducements offered were huge. Democratic senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska got a $100 billion bribe, er, inducement, for his state as the last hold out from his caucus. Surely Olympia Snowe of Maine could have pried loose something from Harry Reid. A promise to make the Bath Iron Works the sole provider of ships to the Navy, perhaps.

But the Republicans stuck to their guns, leading to the spectacle of a major piece of legislation, affecting one sixth of the American economy, having to pass in a purely partisan fashion.

Although it got sixty percent of the available Senate votes, the health care insurance overhaul was far less popular among the populace it is intended to serve, and who will have to pay for it. I am speaking of the American public. According to the latest Rasmussen poll, 55% opposed the bill that the Senate just passed. Among likely voters, 81% think that the plan will lead to higher middle class taxes.

Among Democratic senators, the belief seems to have been that they had to do something in the area of health care, that leaving the system as currently configured would be worse than a bad bill.

The 2010 elections will show whether passing the current legislation was a true victory, or merely a step towards the Democrats becoming undone.