Well, much has happened since my last rant. The stimulus, bank bailouts, skyrocketing debt (both personal AND national!), world tribulations, cash for clunkers, cash for applicances, Toyota & Honda recalls, and psycho politicians, to name a few. The current issue: HEALTHCARE REFORM.
Yea -- right. "Healthcare Reform." Sounds innocent enough, until you try to find out what it means. Impossible! They won't post it [the proposed "bill"] for the average person to read (in fact, no ONE person has read the so-called bill in its entirety yet!). Apparently, there isn't enough room on the internet for the 2300 pages it consists of. WHATever! I think they're just trying to hide the fact that this pile of *#^% includes MUCH more than just "healthcare reform." Billions of dollars of additional debt. Abortion. "Death panels." And a MASSIVE-sized government! They've even included education in the "bill." Not medical education. Not college. Primary & secondary education. Yep. Your run-of-the-mill-public-school-education. Hmmmm....
Yea -- right. "Healthcare Reform." Sounds innocent enough, until you try to find out what it means. Impossible! They won't post it [the proposed "bill"] for the average person to read (in fact, no ONE person has read the so-called bill in its entirety yet!). Apparently, there isn't enough room on the internet for the 2300 pages it consists of. WHATever! I think they're just trying to hide the fact that this pile of *#^% includes MUCH more than just "healthcare reform." Billions of dollars of additional debt. Abortion. "Death panels." And a MASSIVE-sized government! They've even included education in the "bill." Not medical education. Not college. Primary & secondary education. Yep. Your run-of-the-mill-public-school-education. Hmmmm....
The biggest, longest-lingering question for me:
WHY can't they just fix what's in place?
FACT: Medicare & Medicaid are currently in place to a) insure Seniors & b) insure the impoverished. FIX WHAT IS BROKEN! Don't re-invent the wheel! The government needs to a) pay its bills, b) fix the programs that are in place, and c) make people who are on welfare be tested for drugs and do community service.
FACT: Many people who work have access to health insurance, but refuse to take advantage of it. Yes, it's true that many premiums are too expensive. So, let's try a) offering incentives to insurance companies to lower those premiums, b) offer incentives to small businesses to provide insurance for their workers, without forcing them out of business, and/or c) fill in the gaps, but don't re-invent the wheel, by reforming insurance rules & regulations (i.e., pre-existing condition coverage) and by paying Medicare/Medicaid bills so that docs will still take those patients!
FACT: If you go to the emergency room, and need care, YOU WILL NOT BE TURNED AWAY. Hospitals -- especially Catholic or other faith-based facilities -- provide millions of dollars' worth of charitable care each month. I don't mean nation-wide. I mean, each hospital provides millions of dollars' worth of charitable care each month. No, not all hospitals will provide it. But, most do. And, no, they don't advertise it. But, the emergency rooms seem to be flooded with illegal immigrants who don't pay taxes anyway. And, still, the hospitals provide charitable care, knowing they will most likely never see payment for those services performed. That's what they do. (Hey -- big government! The USA is THE most charitable country on the planet. Back off, and let the charities help how/when/where/why they want to! Gosh!)
FACT: Our government was created to have checks and balances, which is why there are 3 branches of legislation. We elect our officials to represent ALL of the people -- NOT just the individuals who voted for said elected official. Am I right? So, if the vast majority of contituents are opposed to a proposed bill, said elected offical should also vote against it, correct? Currently, they are pushing to use the "nuclear option," so they can pass it by skirting the law, yet supposedly staying "legal." You know what I think? I think that, if you can't be up-front & honest about the product, it probably isn't a good one! And, if you have to sell it THAT hard, campaigning and bribing your way to passage, IT REALLY ISN'T A GOOD PRODUCT!
Personally, I am disgusted with our elected officials, and really feel quite helpless in changing things. So, I'll continue ranting. I'll write my representatives in Washington. I'll petition my God in heaven for justice. And, I'll continue to pray for my fellow Americans to stay strong, draw close to our Father, and to remember that compassion and love are the greatest attributes a person can possess. Our politicians need to turn to Philippians 2:1-11:
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but, in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And, being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross!
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (NIV)
I guess it's time to pray more, huh?
