Hyman Goes Eco (or should it be "Echo")?

Mark Hyman recycled, almost word for word, a commentary from last year in which he defends Congress against the charge that our elected representatives don’t pay into Social Security, but receive benefits. This year, like last, Hyman says this is “one of the most asked questions I receive every year.”

I sort of doubt that, but whatever.

Hyman gives the details that show that all federal employees *do* in fact pay into Social Security.

So Hyman spends a commentary mollifying the fears of the rabid right wing paranoia-mongering bloggers that Congress doesn’t pay its fair share when it comes to Social Security.

I wonder why he bothers? In particular, why would he recycle this commentary now?

Maybe it’s just laziness. But perhaps it’s in part because about the only people in Washington with lower approval ratings than the Incredible Shrinking President are members of Congress.

That spells trouble for the incumbent party in the run-up to midterm elections. And contrary to what Republican spinmeisters would likely say, the public disdain for Congress is not a case of “a pox on both your houses.” A recent L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll showed that Democrats in Congress have a higher approval rating (and far lower disapproval rating) than their Republican counterparts, and far more Americans would like to see Democrats control Congress than have the GOP in power for two more years.

So, anything he can do to take the edge off of anti-Congressional sentiment might be a good thing from the H-Man’s perspective.

From our point of view, it’s a good thing simply because by recycling his script from a previous “Point,” Hyman has unwittingly made an infinitesimal contribution to the environment.

Perhaps one less tree had to die in order to bring us “The Point,” and for that, we can all be grateful.

And that’s The Counterpoint.

Hyman Index: 2.42