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Hey Jewelz,

I know a lot of drunken sailors and you just insulted them. Heheh. (thank you Mr. John McCain). Our congress has definitely gone crazy spending other people's money. Our money, and I don't think it is going to stop at healthcare.

Our health care industry is the envy of the civilized world, and there are people outside the US that are wondering why we want to change it. We are trying to fix something that isn't broken. We do have a problem with a relatively few people who don't have health insurance. They still have health care. They can go to the free clinics, hospitals, or they have to pay for it themselves. It's kind of like when I as young all those many many many years ago. If you went to the Dr. you paid him/her (most of the time him). Of course the Dr would also, on occasion, come to our house to see us too. Oh well, times were different then but the principle remains.

We've gotten to the point where we feel entitled to the free lunch, and if we don't get it, then we feel deprived because there are others getting it. The only way to fix that is to change our attitude and become more self reliant. I don't think that will happen any time soon because I want my health care paid for too. Don't you?



Well, we certainly have the best medical treatment available in the world, but sadly the worst healthcare system. There are 40-50 million people in this country without healthcare, myself included, most of whom can't get healthcare because the insurance companies don't want to underwrite anyone who has a pre-existing injury/condition (for fear that they might actually have to pay out on a policy).

And while we can get treated at the hospital and clinics, those without insurance don't get the same "deals" on the cost of procedures that insurance companies get, thus the bill is higher and depending on the procedure, too high for most to pay; so guess who pays -- you do! That's why insurance rates keep going up, the fat cats at the top of the insurance companies keep getting richer, and more people fall through the cracks.

I do agree that life was simpler before the healthcare insurance companies took over: you got sick, you paid the local doctor a modest fee for services (or gave him a dozen eggs, lol) and that was that. But as soon as these private insurance companies got involved the prices went up, the service went down and we find ourselves where we are today.

As a nation we cannot do what you advocate: nothing. We can't afford to do nothing. Healthcare in this country is broken and it needs to be fixed. Thankfully it looks as though it will be sometime before Christmas -- what a great present.

As for Timo's wish for us to have a Canadian style system, yeah right, in our dreams, lol. Sadly, it's too drastic a change for most Americans. We'll be lucky to get a strong public option. But thanks for the kind thought and wishful thinking on our behalf. Maybe in time.

And please, dear friends, try to remember this one thing: the government is not going to be running healthcare! It's not a government takeover of healthcare. Private insurance companies will continue to provide the majority of policies, with absolutely no government interference. The only portion of the healthcare program that the government will be a part of is the public option, which is only an option! No one will be forced into the public option. It will exist to serve as a way to force private companies to keep their rates low and their service high! THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TAKING OVER HEALTHCARE. Lol, okay, I can breathe again, I think I got my point across.

Great discussion guys. If I didn't love this country so much, I think I'd move to Canada, if only for their healthcare system (and their incredibly nice people!)