The battle over health care reform has got me down. Like last year during the presidential campaign, one has to deal with two discursive opponents. On one hand, there are huge packs of lies being spread. On the other hand, there is the actual question of the government’s role in health care. If only we could concentrate on just this second thing and the actual proposals being discussed.

Instead of this being a relatively normal legislative process, all the so-called town hall meetings have turned this into an extension of last year’s campaign. It just doesn’t end. I suppose if I actually had a representative, I would get more involved in the process, but DC citizens have no representation in Congress. Instead I seek solace in The Daily Show with John Stewart, a little corner in our peculiar political universe that offers sanity, civility, and humor.