The End of Health Care Nonsense?

I heard it again today. "NOBODY in America wants universal health care."

Well, I know that's bullshit, because I'M somebody in America and I want universal health care. As a matter of fact, most people that I've spoken to, whether they self-identify as liberal or conservative, would like to see all Americans receive adequate health care, even if it takes a government mandate to do it.

So what's the problem?

To begin with, the two main political parties in America are corrupted by corporate money. BOTH of them are beholden to the insurance industry for at least part of their election. Bought and paid for. And who REALLY doesn't want a public health care option? Big insurance. The CEO of Aetna makes in the neighborhood of 20 million dollars per year, give or take a million. The CEO of Blue Cross made a much more… um… "reasonable"… 4 million, which included a bonus of more than 3 million dollars. Bear in mind as you read those figures that these earnings come from denying YOU medical care, and making sure that YOUR illnesses are not cured, merely treated so that they can go on vacuuming money out of you forever. I ask again… as I asked in an earlier post… am I the ONLY one in this country who's pissed off about this? REALLY? We pay our teachers somewhere between 40 and 50 THOUSAND dollars per year (in other words, I, working at my day job riding a cash register, make MORE on average than a TEACHER) and we're okay with that, while these guys make MILLIONS denying us the care that our doctors want us to have.

Another problem is fear. Especially among older Americans (who, I will remind you, comprise a much larger voter block than younger Americans). Even into my generation, we had a fear of "socialism" pounded into us. It still astounds me when I talk to people who think that socialism is the opposite of democracy, when it is, in fact, the opposite of capitalism. And I have no problem with making money. Heck, if my books get publishd and sell millions of copies each you BET that I'll enjoy that money. But I also don't have a problem with the fact that a lot of it, through charities and taxes to support government programs, will go to help those less fortunate than me. But as long as our corporate-funded elected officials can keep you afraid of death panels, and socialism, and whatever else, that you will continue funneling money to their rich buddies. My mom, a wonderful and intelligent woman who struggles to pay for her prescriptions, is afraid that her medical benefits will be slashed and her taxes will go up… neither of which would happen under "Obamacare". And by the way… Obamacare includes NO DEATH PANELS. I say again that there is NO SUCH THING AS DEATH PANELS. Would they make decisions over coverage, including when it should stop? Sure they will. THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. The difference is, right now it's insurance companies who make these decisions.

I applaud president Obama and the democrats for finally taking a tough stance on this. It seems like the president spent his first year in office genuinely trying to work with republicans, but has finally realized that no matter what he does, the republicans are going to try to block it.

Below is a video that I found that shows the republicans in congress at work.



Peace.

Rev. Randal