Socialized Medicine

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Having long been an advocate of socialized medicine or even a compromised version of such it was with sadness, even fear that came over me when I read two articles August 10, 2009. The first was an article saying why the health care reform will (again) not be approved or even brought up again, most likely, until the next presidential campaign. The second was a commentary on why healthcare reform will more than likely not become a reality in this country.

Our Country, "from California, to the New York Islands”.

I am ashamed to say I have not voted as I should have, nor have I protested or participated in a sit in on issues I felt strongly about. I was born in the early 1950’s, however, a hippie? Not really. More like a victim of culture shock, like Alice peering up at the Cheshire cat and still missing the point entirely. Perhaps if I and others of my generation had been more vigilant of watching the government instead of watching whales or taking up collections for the latest disaster, somewhere else, then perhaps this would not be happening. But again, that may be the bulldog in me, refusing to relinquish its object when there is in fact none left to release.

Remember in the Robin Hood story, when the Kings ward believes Robin is a thief? While all the time Robin Hood was saving his stolen plunder for the Kings return? That is how I felt about the government. That for all its mistakes, for all its flaws, the government is going to keep Americans free and empowered by their own inalienable rights. That the government was in the hands of humans whose morals and value systems were held to a greater standard. Not that the people in government were any better, just that they knew they must be on their guard at all times to prevent the themselves from becoming corrupt.

But that is not the way it is. Unfortunately, as much as this bulldog wants to rip out that corrupt piece there may well be only one or two options for all of us.

Culture shock indeed.

“Listen my friends and listen well, there is something comin”

The government is run by humans; men and women who have two things in their head at two separate times.

The first thought and the first deed go together. On the campaign trail with all the promises and the hoorah speeches, the baby holding and glasses raised in victory toasts.

The second is whenever the corporation that won the money game on the campaign counts the electoral votes and voila, your new president of the United States Ladies and Gentlemen may I present! etc etc etc

The government then debriefs the new president and he or she then does and says exactly what he or she promised to do in between holding the babies of America and smiling for the cameras.

New president every four or eight years, the same debriefing, the same bottom line. We get shafted. Over and over and over again.

Why? For money, what else. Not fame and power. Not glory and riches. Not for love of God and country, not for the right to be free or the chance to free our fellow citizens. Not for anything except numbers. Because it is all relative after all isn’t it?

 Fort Knox cannot hold the amount of gold it would take to back what we say we have going out and coming into the federal treasury. Movies of hidden treasures may be able to deliver a few subliminal messages to a very few people but really dude, wake up. It is all about the numbers on the page. The last page actually, the line at the bottom, which says

                                                       TOTAL PROFIT.

All of this is not a journalistic article. This article is probably, OK, possibly, oh all right I know, it is already being read by someone sitting in a government office, getting paid a state job wage and free insurance for themselves and their immediate family for the space of four lifetimes.

But heh, who wants to live forever right? And for sure dude, who wants to live as healthy as possible for whatever time allotted to us?

Dude, grow up, insurance?

You have got to be kidding!

It will always be offered.

It will always have a yearly

Open enrollment period

It will always have smiling representatives with goodies

Like pens and post it notes and key chains

It will always have earnest and sincere sounding men and women,

Some with their own power point presentation

They will always have the best health insurance benefit plans

That your company can offer and still remain solvent!

Why look! Dude! Your CEO is coming here to address you personally

To thank you all for being such wonderful employees!

And it goes something like this;

You are the backbone of this company and we have gone to great lengths to make sure we have kept health care costs as affordable for you and your family as we possibly can.

 We know this is a more expensive health care plan than we have offered in the past, however, we here at (fill in the name of your company) feel it is in the best interest of our employees and their families to make this change.

Remember, we are right there beside you, this affects us as much as it affects you.

Right, like their benefit packages are the same as yours and mine. If you’ll buy that, I have this really nice bridge; man…