I just read about the New Hampshire senator -- whose name I can't recall -- among others, whose "numbers" are plummeting because they failed to pass the most basic of gun control laws two weeks ago. She claimed that voting YES would "place unnecessary burdens on law-abiding gun owners and allow for potential overreach by the federal government into private gun sales." I wonder whether she has a tiny crush on the head of the National Rifle Association or at least is petrified of him. Are the people who claim that better mental health screening needs to be done in this country before we worry about gun control not aware of the statistics that show only a tiny percentage of gun violence is due to "mentally ill persons" or are they just trying to duck the fact that they're kow-towing to corporate pressure? And fear? I wonder if our health insurance will become more affordable in 2014 when those health exchanges open and those of us in the individual market, still getting reamed by the big insurers, will be able to join these pools. I just got the bill for the minor skin surgery that I had a few weeks ago, and I'll tell you something. I wonder if we're going to be able to afford to pay for any medical treatment at all given the astronomical co-pay due. I wonder if I made the right decision to lower my insurance coverage last year with a higher deductible and lower premiums. I wonder if it wouldn't be worth it to pack it all up and head to a socialist country. I hear that austerity programs aren't working over there, either. I wonder if finishing War and Peace before my fiftieth birthday was such a good idea. I wonder if I'll make it with two teenage boys in the house for the next eight years or so. I wonder if starting Sophie on a medical marijuana regimen will change everything or if my hopes will be dashed to smithereens for the millionth time. I wonder if my sense of humor will finally give out. I wonder if we all start meditating, we might change the world. Evidently, my sense of humor prevails.
Much to ponder. I think you are asking the right questions.
ReplyDeleteon the insurance...I just spent 3 hours with my insursance agent trying to find a more affordable plan...I can't really go up on my detuctable any more..it is $10,000! My insurance agent (who I think is a Democrat...) says that NOBODY has any idea what is going to happen. She is thinking that it is not going to be good...for the people who hope to get help in paying for the insurance they think it will be done on the end of year tax credit thing...just great!!...Premiums are going to be more...care is going to be less and it is just mind boggling(sp?)...the ones that might make it are those that have government jobs and their insurance is covered and even that is not guaranteed any longer. She says sure you can't be excluded for pre-existing and for kids under 26 but...at what cost??...can you afford to pay the premiums?? And did you know in 2014 if you sell your house something like 5% of the capitol gain will be taken automatically to pay for our super duper new health care?...And the countries that have the super duper socialized health care..well...that is not looking so great right now either...ok..I'm done...ha!!..my word verification is composed...
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you advocate, ain't for city girl? If government coverage is so good, why not expand to universal? Make it all free. Take the profit out. No more insurance companies. Universal healthcare for all in a rich country.
DeleteI do advocate for universal and free and take the profit out...however that is not what we are getting...people like us are going to pay even more than what we are paying now. And the poor(er) in Arizona are going to be even worse than they were before...with ACCHESS frozen and medicaid practically impossible to get for any type of coverage now. We are in the same boat as you...our premiums are going up and they will continue to go up...our co-pay doesn't even exist really....and you can't even get care because you can't afford to go to the doctor if you have insurance until you meet your detuctable. So it is a vicious circle. All I am saying is what we will have in 2014 is not what we thought it was going to be and that is a shame. And make no mistake about it..the ones that don't have insurance really get no care to speak of...yes..maybe in the emergency room but then they are sent home. Yes..in this rich country everyone should have GOOD health care....but we are further from that than ever in my opinion.
DeleteIt is better up here, not perfect but at least everyone has coverage. My cancer patients complain about parking costs, which are disgusting, but when I here about what some Americans have to pay for cancer care, it boggles my mind. Because it's not bad enough to have cancer, you need to be raped as well.
ReplyDeleteOn that thoughts, Katie is going to have a mole looked at on Friday. Fingers crossed it's not melanoma.
Thanks, Deb, and my fingers are totally crossed. Sending love, too.
DeleteThere's a lot to wonder about, that's for sure. I don't pretend to know the answers. I do think we're on the right track overall with Obamacare, though. It might be a surprise for people who expected the moon right away, and who weren't reading the newspapers about their own obligations under the law - which I think is what Ain't For City Gals is talking about. But I, for one, look at it as the first imperfect steps toward more equitable distribution of health care resources.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to reply to this: And did you know in 2014 if you sell your house something like 5% of the capitol gain will be taken automatically to pay for our super duper new health care? This is not true. You can check the details on Snopes.com: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/realestate.asp. This lie has been going around for a while. People read it, pass it along like it's truth without checking the facts. The Affordable Healthcare Act is not perfect (I'm for Universal Healthcare as well), but at least it's a start.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I'm so glad your sense of humor prevails!
Thanks for that , Patrice. My friend's elderly mother told me that when Social Security passed, there was similar "the sky is falling!" hysteria.
DeleteFascinating! Thanks SO MUCH for posting that, Patrice! (I love Snopes!)
Deletekeep wondering, sister. the world needs dreamers and askers.xoxo
ReplyDeleteNo, don't give up on at least the meditation thing working! Keep the faith, Sister, and the humor!
ReplyDeleteI wonder some of these same things, although I take great solace in knowing that some of these politicians are heading home to a very angry reception for their cowardice of late. I believe that if we all meditate and continue to raise our voices, with questions and answers, that we will begin to make a difference. All of that positive energy doesn't just disappear.
ReplyDeleteAnd here is what I know: that you will continue to live with your eyes and your heart wide open and that will make all the difference - not only for your kids but for everyone who reads your wise words.
Love.
I tried too comment yesterday, but blogger was giving me trouble
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say that grass looks pretty green - and I hope you have some good kinds of changes soon - whether they are grass green ones or not