Thoughts of Spring

I had a great work out yesterday with the group comprising this year’s Team Challenge group from the National Capital Area. I was part of the walking group and we walked approximately two and a half to three miles in 50 minutes. My legs were sore from working out the last few days. I haven’t walked or worked out in 10 days and I am feeling it. It is a reminder that I am at the age – I will be 53 next month – where I need to work out every day to keep my body limber. I can not whip myself into shape as I could 20 or 30 years ago. Ten years ago I was in the early stages of my Crohn’s disease and couldn’t do any exercise. I am much healthier now and participating in this marathon keeps me motivated to stay active. It also reinforces that I can live a full life in spite of the disease.

I am also monitoring the effort to pass health care legislation. I have to admit I am very perturbed at how long and nasty this debate has gotten. Both parties and their supporters are distorting the truth for their own political gain. At this point I can’t trust anything either side is saying. Something needs to be done and it doesn’t have to be so complicated. They should pass those portions of the bill where there is agreement and debate the disagreeable parts separately. But given my experience working on legislative issues, this is typical of how things get done there.

Here are some of my thoughts on the situation:

1. Reform is needed, doing nothing solves nothing.

2. Why don’t we allow businesses and individuals join the Federal government pool which provides a variety of very competitive health care plans to choice? Numbers help keep the costs of plans down.

3. There are some people who want the president to fail at all cost. Even if it hurts them or others. Some of it is clearly racial.

4. We are so consumed with putting labels on people without any knowledge of the meaning of those labels.

5. I don’t understand how some people can be opposed to a government run health care system yet do not want to protect their Medicare benefits.

6. If the Republicans opposed to any “government-funded or government-negotiated” health care system are committed to their point, why haven’t any of them relinquished their “government-funded, government negotiated” health care insurance they receive as Members of Congress and get comparable coverage from insurance companies paid out of their pocket?

7. If the label “socialism” is so bad, why do we use socialist principles to help people make money? In a free market society shouldn’t consumers decide what products they want to purchase? If that is so, why are we requiring people to buy insurance? Shouldn’t that be a personal choice?

8. I don’t agree with the mandate that every one should be required to have health insurance. That should be their choice. I don’t think we should force people to make insurance companies and their stock holders rich.

9. There are people in this country who need some type of public option in order to receive decent care.

10. I don’t necessarily agree with the route being taken to pass the legislation, but how can Republicans look themselves in the face when they used the reconciliation process to pass the tax cuts which helps to create the deficit?

11. If Democrats truly believe in fairness why are the rich also getting soaked?

12. I have been fortunate to receive excellent care and very little hassle from my health insurance company, but I can’t help but think insurance is nothing more than legal extortion.

13. We need to allow people to negotiate health benefits across state lines.

14. We need to allow people to purchase medication from Canada. That will help reduce the costs we pay here in the US.

15. Those who believe either the government is the answer to their problems or who believe the private sector offers the best solution are being unrealistic. Neither by themselves can solve any problems. Strictly relying on the government creates dependency and control – we saw that with the old welfare system. The private sector is controlled by greed – we see that with the current economic crisis. The solution lies somewhere in the middle.