Health Care Wars in the United States
By: Todd Withrow, Senior Entertainment & Political Columnist
Published: January 24, 2010 7:57 PM EST
Health care, what does it mean to you? Is it a subject that you are well versed in? ARE YOU CURRENTLY COVERED? Are you WORRIED that the government may require everyone to purchase health care? Let's have a brief discussion about it. First of all, Universal Health Care has been a longtime goal of the Democratic Party. The Clintons tried to get it passed back in the 90s, but failed mostly due to the GOP. Granted their health care bill may have been bloated and convoluted but at least they were trying even if it was to no avail. Now President Obama has picked up the cause and looked to be making some headway; however, once again we have the Republicans standing in the way. Go figure! So why is the party of NO so up in arms over health care reform? Is it because of the proposed public option that Obama and most Democrats want? Yes, that's part of it but they also say that if we have Universal Health Care then it is a move toward socialism and that the Government will be running everything before it is over (I am quite sure the Republicans would not mind that so much if they were still in power).
Ok, so ask yourselves this question; what's so bad about a public option? One argument against it is that the quality of health care would be worse in a public plan. Maybe or maybe not, but as I see it, some health care is better than no health care, which sadly millions upon millions of Americans are currently facing. While it may not matter to THE people who can afford health insurance, it most certainly matters to the many men and women who cannot afford to have coverage for themselves or their families. Maybe the "Conservative" Congressmen & women do not care about the little people; maybe they are more worried about the insurance companies who back their campaigns when they run for office? Maybe they are just a little concerned that the insurance tyrants might have to lower their premiums to be competitive if a public option is made available and if that happens then the political backing may not be there next time an election rolls around?
Sadly, even though the Democrats had majorities in both Houses of Congress; they still could not come to an agreement amongst themselves. Now with the recent special election in Massachusetts being won by a republican (Teddy Kennedy is no doubt spinning in his grave) it seems that the GOP will win out again. Health insurance companies can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they can continue to overcharge people or drop coverage at their whim.
United States of Disillusionment
By: Todd Withrow, Senior Entertainment & Political Columnist
Published: January 12, 2010 11:58 PM EST
It's been awhile since you have heard from me. Maybe some of you have missed me and maybe
some of you haven't even noticed? Well, in case you are wondering where I've been hiding; I'll
tell you. I've been lost but not alone in the United States of Disillusionment. I'm sad and
I'm mad that the Democratic Party I so cherish has shown itself to be weak and not really
worthy of my vote. From majority leader Harry Reid to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, my
disappointment runs deep but especially so in President Obama. While I fully understand
that this administration inherited a horrible state of affairs after 8 long years of
George Bush, Obama can no longer use Bush as a scapegoat. He must now accept responsibility
for his own actions and broken promises.
Obama and the Democrats must stand accountable. I, for one, was certainly disgusted when it came to light that the White House had lied about job creation and jobs saved from the economic stimulus. Sure that could've been expected under George Bush but I hoped for something different when I voted for
Obama. After all, he did campaign on being honest with Americans. He also said he would like to include Americans in the health care negotiation process by having them televised on C-span and now of course we are being shut out. That being said, it looks like President Obama will get health care reform passed but what will that mean to the common folk?
No one really knows, since we aren't privy to the negotiations; so much for government
transparency. Then there is Iraq. You may have heard of it, we invaded it about 8 years ago and are still there; another Obama campaign promise broken, as we were told that our troops would be out within 16 months if he was elected. So people; now you know, I'm feeling letdown and wondering if I cast the right vote. I voted with my heart believing and hoping that Barrack Obama and this Democratic congress would deliver on their promises but so far I must admit I'm not impressed. Still there is time to get things back on track, I hope and pray that the President succeeds in his aim to revitalize our economy and secure our nation from those who would do us harm. Time will tell.
2008-2009: Archives
September 2007: Archives
