Hillary's Town Hall Meeting

I wasn't able to attend the Town Hall meeting for Hillary Clinton due to kid issues but I watched it online as it happened. It wasn't quite the same but I definitely learned more about Hillary and her policies.

I am continually impressed with every appearance of Hillary I see (she was losing her voice and I commend her for still holding this event). She was very articulate tonight and her experience in policy issues was quite evident.

My #1 issue in this year's election is health care. After reading both Senator Clinton's and Senator Obama's health care plan, I must say that I like Hillary's much more. She understands that, in order to provide the best quality care for all Americans, the entire system must be reformed. It is not enough to just make insurance and pharmaceutical companies compete with each other but to actually reduce the costs all across the board.

One of the highlights of Obama's health care plan is that health coverage will not be mandatory; only those who want coverage will receive it. This sounds like a good idea but when one really thinks about it, it won't be as cost-effective as he says.

At my job, I see lots of people who are desperate for legal assistance. Unfortunately, they don't realize they need this assistance before it's too late. The same is true with health care insurance. If people get coverage through their job, they don't think twice about it. And when they need it, it'll be there for them. However, a lot of people don't have health insurance. And they don't think about having it before it's too late--usually when they end up in the emergency room or worse.

This is just one of the issues that will be running through my head at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning when I walk into my polling place.

Stay tuned until tomorrow to find out who I voted for and why.

My SCHIP Thoughts

I have been hesitant to express my thoughts about SCHIP due to some criticism from a friend when I wrote once about my daughter not having any health insurance. But the more rhetoric that comes out from the right-wing about the reason to fund SCHIP, the more I have found myself very upset over the issue.

First of all, with the expansion of SCHIP, children around the country like mine would have health insurance. My kid is very healthy and I have a very good paying job (by some standards) but health insurance for her would cost me $300 per month. When figuring out whether or not to have this $300 taken out of my paycheck every month, I opted out. You see, the cost for after school care is usually around $300 and when deciding which was more necessary, I chose the after school day care. Thankfully, like I said, she’s a very healthy child.

However, she does not qualify for SCHIP now because I make more than the required amount—just barely. With SCHIP, my daughter and thousands of others around the country would be covered.

I’m not asking for the government to provide me with a handout, I just feel that they have the capabilities to help people who need a tiny bit of help to get through life. I don’t plan on having my daughter on CHIP and a few years ago, the health insurance I had didn’t charge me that much for her. For me, and for many, I’m certain, using SCHIP is only a short-term fix for a long-term problem.

Second, I am appalled of the bullshit “President” Bush and his Republican cronies (like the toupee-wearing former Utah Governor, Mike Leavitt) have spewed about how awful SCHIP is.

Seriously? Providing health insurance is a bad thing?! Please, I’d like to know how you rationalize that. I mean, you care about kids when they are in the womb but as soon as they are out-utero, you could care less.

Also, how can you turn health insurance for kids into a crazy, left-wing, liberal-wiener idea? Last week, when the House was trying to overturn The Worst President Ever’s veto, some right-wing no-name Congressman stood up on the House floor with a chart and spelled out what SCHIP really means: Socialized Clinton-style Hillarycare for Illegals and their Parents.

Oh really? I must have totally misread, State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I mean, they TOTALLY sound and look so much alike! Thanks, “Congressman” for setting us crazy Americans straight asshat!

Finally, I’ve never read or even heard of Michelle Malkin until she started attacking innocent children who need SCHIP. People like her are the reason I do not listen to right-wing talk radio or watch Fox News. Everyone tells me I should so I can, “Keep up with what the right is saying.” But listening to that crap is mind-numbingly painful and I already swear enough in the car, I don’t need to do it more!

I realize that I received my degree from a public University, but can someone please explain to me how attacking anyone—especially children—helps advance your issue/cause/platform?! I may be wrong here (which I’m not, btw) but I don’t see how that really helps your side of the issue. In fact, I’d say it hurts you. Like a lot.

In conclusion, I’d really like someone to explain to me how expanding SCHIP is a bad thing because I just don’t see it. I don’t even understand the funding issue when the “President,” five days after the failed veto override attempt, asks Congress to spend more money on an unjust, immoral and failed war.

But then, I’ll never understand stupidity and ignorance.

Does this make sense to anyone?

From Wonkette:

4. profit

* 1. Bush declares Oct. 1 “Child Health Day.”
* 2. Bush vetoes children’s health care bill.

John Edwards = Robin Hood

John Edwards has a great idea about how to help pay for his universal health care plan:

Edwards said on the first day of his administration he would submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress, and all senior political appointees in both branches of government on July 20th, 2009 - unless universal health care legislation that meets four specific, non-negotiable principles has been passed by that date.

I like this idea because, to me, it shows that he understands that there are some people who are getting the best health care in the country while others are getting nothing. And the people getting the good care are representing the ones who have none.

How is this right? Why are the richest of the rich and elected representatives more deserving of good, quality health care?

They aren't.

This is a moral issue. I believe that Edwards' health care plan is the best one out there so far.

We must do better. We can, it'll just take a President who's willing to do so.

To read the entire story, go here John Edwards.com

How not seeing 'Sicko' can be dangerous to your health

After a group watched the movie in Texas, the viewers were too pissed off to sit back and do nothing.

Have you ever asked yourself, "How free are we?"

What a better way to spend a hot 4th of July than at the movies.

Usually, holiday movies are reserved for those that are meant to entertain not for ones that shock you and make you think critically about our world. But for this Independence Day, I saw "SiCKO" by famed liberal documentary director, Michael Moore.

Like most people, I didn't really know what to expect in this movie. But like all of Moore's films, I left feeling really pissed off and ready to move to Canada. I have talked before about my personal health care woes (much to the chagrin of a former good friend of mine who says that if I were better with money, my kid would be able to have health insurance) but after seeing this movie, I realized that my problems are not nearly as bad as I thought. I am one of the lucky ones.

The movie doesn't touch so much on those that don't have health insurance, but those that do and how even with insurance, they are still not receiving the care they deserve and are dying much too early in their lives.

But it got me thinking, "How can we ever really be free if we are constantly worrying about things we should not be worrying about?"

The movie takes us to four countries that have universal health care: Canada, England, France and Cuba. In France, Moore talks to Americans living in France and all of the wonderful things the country provides not to just citizens, but to all who live there. Things like free health care, child care, government nannies (who will also do your laundry if need be), doctor house calls, public AND HIGHER education are the norm. In fact, if the government ever tried to do away with any of these things, there would be mass revolt.

Not only do these countries have longer life spans and lower infant mortality rates that the U.S., they also have more vacation days (up to 5 weeks in France), paid sick days for as long as you need, and the highest quality and expert medical care.

We in America should be outraged with what our government is doing to us. THEY are making us sick.

As recent college graduates, my friends and I find ourselves steeped in debt and taking mediocre-paying jobs. We are taking jobs not because they will be a boost to our career, but because we have to. We must start paying off out student loans but in order to do that, we need to make a significant amount of money so we can afford to eat as well. We MUST find jobs that have health care. Too many jobs have I taken solely because they offered health benefits.

That's sad.

I shouldn't have to take a job that pays crap and requires me to work too many hours so I can't take care of my child and the sole reason I need the job is for the health insurance.

This movie brought the saying, "If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention" to my mind. How free are we when we have to constantly worry about these things? How free are Americans when the basic ideals we hold dear--life, liberty, family, the pursuit of happiness, security--are unattainable to us? Why is the government not doing anything about it? Why are we treating our citizens this way?! Can we really claim to be the greatest country in the world anymore?

As long as we are constantly worrying about the basic necessities in life, we will never be free. Government is designed to help people; to take care of those who can not take care of themselves. Our government is failing us. We should be incensed. Thomas Jefferson would be disgusted. I know I am.

The necessity of health care for all

The top issue in the 2008 Presidential race is surely going to be the War in Iraq.
I believe that the top issue must be the millions of Americans who have no health insurance. This issue probably ranks right around number 2 or 3 however.

This week, Barack Obama finally unveiled his health care plan which would not renew the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to help pay for the plan. Ingenius! Screw the rich to take care of the poor--I liiiiiike it!

All of the Democratic candidates will have a good and feasible plan for universal health care no doubt. The problem will not be which candidate doesn't come up with a plan but rather, which candidate has the best plan that covers everyone.

What's most disturbing to me is the fact that a majority of people who are not covered are those who are employed with full-time work. Like myself. Fortunately, I do have health insurance, but my kid does not. For the basic plan my employer offers, I pay $10 a month for insurance; to cover my kid under the same plan, it would cost me $300 a month. Now, for someone who uses every last penny of my paycheck to pay the rent and bills, I cannot afford this $300 to be taken out of my check. I figured that since my kid is relatively healthy, I would be okay and just pray she didn't break any bones. I also have a health savings plan that I contribute to and can use that money to pay for bills and such, but it's not that much.

Things have been going fine until she has complained of a sore throat for a week now. After over the counter medicine for a week and it still hurting, I had to give in and take her to the clinic. Almost $200 later, she is fine. But I don't have $200 just laying around.

The importance of health insurance is very important--not just to me, but to millions of others who struggle with this everyday. When you vote next year, think about your family and others who strive everyday to provide a quality life for their families but are lacking this one necessity. Remember them as you research the issues of each candidate and how their health care plans will benefit them.

This, above all others, is the most moral issue of our time. It's time to do something about it.