My man Roger Cohen writes, in the New York Times:

I can see the conservative argument that welfare undermines the work ethic and dampens moral fiber. Provide sufficient unemployment benefits, and people will opt to chill rather than labor. But it’s preposterous to extend this argument to health care. Guaranteeing health coverage doesn’t incentivize anybody to get meningitis.

The final sentence of the four quoted says it all. Why wouldn’t we want a public option again? Oh yeah, millions of dollars are lobbying against it, and money weighs more than sound logic, goodwill, public service, or common sense.

But, the healthcare debate aside, we must also consider Mr. Cohen’s use of a powerful verb in “chillin.” Chillin. Chillaxin. The only verb in the infinite tense. Synonymous with “lazin” and “nothin-doin.”

The verb is contrasted with labor, a Marxian work-horse who functions more typically as a noun, an unit of economic power, a push towards birth, a word championed by Soviets and grandfathers. Rugged types.

Cohen goes on to point out:

Individualism is more “rugged” when housed in a healthy body.

Word up, Mr. Cohen. Individualism is the jam, for sure, but why should it conflict with a public option (option being a key word) for healthcare? Options are, generally speaking, most chill, in the adjectival sense, in which something “chill” (or, strangely enough, “ill”) is dope, or is hell of all right by this guy [points to self w/thumb].

Word up, indeed, Mr. Cohen. Now, if only I could make this common cold I’m getting chill out… perhaps with a pill…