Here is a story I wish all of our bickering officials would read, its a story with an event being repeated far too often. I, too, considered enlisting as we weighed our options as the unemployment ran down, and our odds of avoiding major health care issues continued to worsen as time passed.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091025/LIVING01/710259840
I read this, and while I count my blessings on my own wife's health so far, this sounds so much like our own family...I had to simply sit and stare out the window for many long minutes.
I wish him well, and I hope he stays safe. If I happen to meet him in my own adventures in that region of the world, I will gladly shake this soldier's hand, in admiration for his sense of what is important.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Progress?
As one reviews the headlines these days, one wonders where all the promises have went. Washington seems split with wasteful bickering, and at times, it appears that the party that promised bipartisanship forgot the promise.
I hoped that some type of health care reform would happen...something to HELP all those affected with job loss, instead of solutions that are at one end of the spectrum or another. It appears I asked for too much.
I have a job now, and the promise of insurance. But the insurance situation has not really improved, has it?
Yes, my insurance with my new career is less than COBRA...but we received notice today that it is open enrollment time for next year. I currently pay about $500/month for family coverage with a high deductible (or it is to me, based on what I had in 2008). Per the information received today, the same plan for 2010 will be almost $800/month. Where is the improvements?
I am afraid the insurance reform will only make things worse, even though I had REALLY hoped for improvements.
And this delay on making a decision on Afghanistan is worrisome as well. I have the misfortune to understand violence all too well, I fear the delay will cost our troops...too many cultures in the world respect overwhelming power and decisive action over careful thought and humanitarian ideals. I think the last two items are important as well, but it is still a cold, hard, violent world in many places around the globe. And before you mention that we should focus on our problems at home before helping elsewhere, if we would stop spending $$$ inflating athletes salaries, building HUGE wasteful things, spending way too much on over-priced items of ALL types, I bet we could find the money to feed and shelter those in need. If we cut the salaries of professional athletes and corporate CEO's to something like $2 million/year max (which is a lot of money for MOST of the country), how much money would be freed for other things?
But I ask something very difficult...history has shown humanity makes poor choices until it hurts enough to make better choices. I fear this will be the same.
I hoped that some type of health care reform would happen...something to HELP all those affected with job loss, instead of solutions that are at one end of the spectrum or another. It appears I asked for too much.
I have a job now, and the promise of insurance. But the insurance situation has not really improved, has it?
Yes, my insurance with my new career is less than COBRA...but we received notice today that it is open enrollment time for next year. I currently pay about $500/month for family coverage with a high deductible (or it is to me, based on what I had in 2008). Per the information received today, the same plan for 2010 will be almost $800/month. Where is the improvements?
I am afraid the insurance reform will only make things worse, even though I had REALLY hoped for improvements.
And this delay on making a decision on Afghanistan is worrisome as well. I have the misfortune to understand violence all too well, I fear the delay will cost our troops...too many cultures in the world respect overwhelming power and decisive action over careful thought and humanitarian ideals. I think the last two items are important as well, but it is still a cold, hard, violent world in many places around the globe. And before you mention that we should focus on our problems at home before helping elsewhere, if we would stop spending $$$ inflating athletes salaries, building HUGE wasteful things, spending way too much on over-priced items of ALL types, I bet we could find the money to feed and shelter those in need. If we cut the salaries of professional athletes and corporate CEO's to something like $2 million/year max (which is a lot of money for MOST of the country), how much money would be freed for other things?
But I ask something very difficult...history has shown humanity makes poor choices until it hurts enough to make better choices. I fear this will be the same.
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