Our society has undergone immense change the past 50 years, primarily because of the invention of computers, enabling mankind to unlock secrets of science and technology that we simply might not have solved with mere human brainpower. Daily technology has changed our lives in a manner that bygone generations never could have imagined.

I wonder now if our social society is undergoing the same evolution, transforming us into a nation of Americans no longer seeking out the American dream in the bold manner of our forefathers. The Constitution’s authors, when stating they wished to “promote the general welfare of the people,” did not mean placing everyone into a welfare system supported by the federal government.

Somehow in the meandering, misguided minds of some politicians, the seeds of this simple constitutional statement have become the centerpiece of an agenda that some conservatives describe as socialism, and with justification. Has our society become so embedded with government that our electorate promotes and welcomes more new social programs, all destined to bankrupt our nation in the not-too-distant future?

Now President Barack Obama — only a year ago vowing bipartisanship and a new way of governing — seeks to ram down our very hoarse throats a health care program via “budget reconciliation,” a process allowing the Senate to take action with only 51 votes rather than the 60 usually required in this once deliberative body.

Budget reconciliation is a little-used procedure lowering the threshold of voting to a simple majority with fast-track rules limiting debate. Its use was to make incremental changes to our federal budget — and not to create sweeping social legislation, especially legislation as divisive as this.

The Clinton administration could have used this option to pass health care legislation in the 1990s. Instead, Bill Clinton and his allies, to their credit I think, wisely chose to abandon the idea as inappropriate.

But Obama and company have made several things clear in terms of the health care debate now raging:

* Democrats will enact health care legislation regardless of future consequences.

* Democrats will abuse the system regardless of consequences.

* Partisan politics is at its zenith during this Democratic administration.

* Future generations be damned.

* Consequences for other politicians be damned, including those in their own party.

* ObamaCare is a legacy for disaster.

Last month’s health care summit produced nothing but rhetoric from both sides. Nothing meaningful happened when TV cameras were on, demanding something passing for oratory from our leaders but devoid of substance.

It’s disheartening to know Obama has half-heartedly included in his recent program portions of recommendations by Republicans, watered down to the point of absurdity. Everything the American public has seen in the weeks since Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown’s election indicates Americans are weary of the issue in this format. They’re ready for meaningful change in American politics.

For this president, alas, that now means forcing legislation through and counting on voters to remain sheep ripe for skinning. The con man Billie Sol Estes once said: “You can shear a sheep twice a year, but you can only skin him once.”

Is America ready to be skinned or sheared? That’s the question. Many independent voters who voted for Obama are now flagellating themselves for their votes. Yellow dog Democrats may be happy; blue dogs are not. Let’s hope and pray America is not ruled by yellow dogs. We cannot let this arrogant abuse of power continue.

The only good that can come of ObamaCare is that it will rightfully send Democrats back into the wilderness for another generation. Americans won’t sit still for the grandest Obamanation and abuse of power to come out of Washington in most Americans’ lifetimes.

Clifton Robinson is chairman of Robinson Media, which owns the Tribune-Herald.