Public option or Co- ops...

Hmmm, shit I don't know! This co-op thing sounds good, but who knows the details?? The public thing is being rushed, I think. Heck, let the fucking congress take their god damned break and come back and hash out a decent healthcare plan.

As much as I would love another option for health care, I don't want them bankrupting this already broke country. If the co-op thing gives a few more people access to (halfway affordable) healthcare, at a lower cost, then so be it.

A few months ago, I said that Obama had inherited a lot of problems and we had to give it time to see how he did. Now, time has passed and I can criticize him and Congress for two (big) things: A. the rush to push through a hastily prepared stimulus package. and B. trying to rush health care legislation.

He is rushing, because he thinks a repeat of 1994 will happen and the Congress will (re)gain a lot of Republicans. Right now, it looks as if this may happen. Hmmm, perhaps I will vote for one! No religio-cons or neo-cons, however!

Try to get it done by the end of the year, then you've still beat the dreaded election season!

Whom to get maddest at?

Healthcare reform is hitting speed bumps. Perhaps it is good to slow down a bit, but can the warring parties ever come together to reach a compromise? So pick your side that you are maddest at. The bottom line is that the problem isn't getting solved. I really would feel better if this bill was bipartisan and one that conservative Democrats could sign on to!

Changing subjects here...

Getting back to an important domestic issue which affects us all, I wanted to weigh in on health care... It looks like both Democrats and Republicans are at odds with each other and there is little consensus. The big difficulty here seems to be in paying for it. The Dems want to tax the rich and the Repubs, well, I'm not sure how they would reform health care.

First, health care is important, so I feel we should all pay into the system - based on our income. This taxing the "rich" stuff sounds good, but I feel it is fairer to have everybody pay a reasonable premium. The problem is now, there are no reasonable ways for an old fart like me to buy health insurance on my own. So therefore I must work for someone to get insurance. While I don't want to see employer based insurance go away, I would just like to be able to afford coverage through a non-employer plan... just in case I loose my job and can't find another one for 18 months, or wish self employment, I'd like a policy with a reasonable premium that covers all my needs - medical and prescription.

I think that if you took all the uninsured in this country and gave them access to affordable premiums, I bet enough would be enrolled to perhaps cover the costs without totally blowing a hole in the budget.