A sad day for America

[Yargk]

I am in disbelief that the American people have chosen this path. There are many who thought that we shouldn't change presidents during the war. I could easily argue that with the way it has been run, that we desperately need new leadership to be successful in Iraq, but I don't think this is the most important issue.

A huge number of Bush voters cited "moral issues." What this means is that millions upon millions of people irrationally fear things like prostitution, drug use, gay marriages and naughty language. These things have been part of society for millennia. The Republican idea of shoving them in a box and expecting them to disappear is naive and ignorant. Not only this, but it's hurtful to the poor people caught up in such things. Don't they realize that with a wonderful system like planned parenthood, less people would need an abortion because couples would have better family planning and access to contraceptives. If drug use was legalized, can you imagine the amount of tax dollars that could be raised from it that could be put into rehab programs. That would cause less drug use, not more. I would never get caught up in any of these practices myself and like any American, I would be heartbroken if any of my (future) children were involved in those practices. However, the answer is not to judge such people. My reason is not bleeding heart sympathy, but it is instead pragmatism. The republican way doesn't improve these "moral issues," but if you don't judge and instead work with these people as fellow human beings, then the problems might actually get better.

What's even worse is that the Republican party will use these issues to get reelected so they can push their own agenda. This includes getting tax breaks for the richest 1% of America. Many working families have to pay ten thousand dollars a year on health insurance. The republicans won't help with that when they won't even try to bring down the price of prescription drugs. We need nationalized health care. I don't understand how people can be afraid of this. In most democratic developed nations they have better health care than in the US [edit: roughly equal quality health care as the US, this is not what matters in the post though ], and it's free. Isn't this a basic human right?

[bryanthompson]

51% of America disagrees with you.

[Yargk]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
51% of America disagrees with you.

If they agreed, I'd have no reason to post.

I don't mean to insult, but I am confused by your signiture. I'm looking for solutions and they are in plain sight.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by Yargk
Snipped, with gusto........
In most democratic developed nations they have better health care than in the US, and it's free. Isn't this a basic human right?

Well then, pardner, I would say by that logic food and shelter should be free too. Cable TV, cars, and beer too.
Don't know where you come up with 'better'.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Yargk
In most democratic developed nations they have better health care than in the US, and it's free. Isn't this a basic human right?

Better? Guess again and, btw, I find that insulting since I work in health care. And, free is questionable. There's no such thing as free, ever.

[Yargk]

Originally posted by dhoward
Well then, pardner, I would say by that logic food and shelter should be free too. Cable TV, cars, and beer too.
Don't know where you come up with 'better'.

We have the same infant motality rate as Cuba.

Canada, Austra, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, ... (the list goes on) have better infant motality rates.

Better is not the point, I don't mean to insult those in the industry. The point is that our country's health care is not better than in many countries that have nationalized health care, but is about the same in quality. But it's very hard to access unless you get a plan through your job, see below.

The thing is that there aren't special clubs that get you food for little money where if you're not in the club you have to pay 100 dollars for a hot dog. This is the health care situation. If you get it through your job then you are part of a group that gets very good rates. If you have a job that doesn't provide health care, then you have to buy it individually for absolutely insane prices. This difference of price goes on at hospitals too. If you have insurance they will charge the insurance company often less than half what they'd charge YOU if you didn't have insurance. It's a crisis. I wouldn't mind paying for health insurance if the state required them to give rates as good as they do per person to businesses. But the difference here is often something like $2000 a family if you're in a group and 10000 if you're a family that's buying it individually. How can this be legal?

[mjshira]

have you ever thought that this is because we have such a high degree of people coming here in a less than legal manner? those other nations dont have that problem as much as we do. And those nations do not foster economic growth and risk taking. Having lived over there I can tell you that there are many people there who feel held back by a system that rewards inaction vrs. change and silence vrs. questioning how something is done today.

you have some valid points dont get me wrong. But I would ask that you consider the manner in which Kerry gave in which was with class, the manner in which Bush accepted, which was with class and the effort of normal people to stand in the rain and wait in long lines to make thier choice known which showed the "salt" of the American people. All things to be proud of in my view.

Only when people on the coasts of the country try and understand those in the middle will a liberal win again. And I hope we get a more balanced agenda driven by a strong demo party and maybe an indy party too. But to say it is sad when so many people expressed themselves is in my view short sighted (no offence)

[david914]

Like the man said, NOTHING is free. You pay for it in one form or another. Agreed, our health care system is in dire need of a makeover. IMHO, it is severely mis-managed and over-managed. A simpler system would be much more efficient and cost less. There are many factors involved, way too many to get into here. The bottom line is, massive legislation is NOT the answer. It only complicates an already complex problem. Our society has become entirely too quick to turn to lawyers to "solve" every little problem that occurs in our lives. We've thrown decency and common sense out the window and become very much a "me society". Creating laws to solve all of our problems is not the answer because in the grand scheme of things, it's not working...

[ErVikingo]

We have much better reporting too......

Tort reform is needed.

[fintstone]

When was the last time you saw a US citzen building a raft or swimming shark-infested waters to sneak into Cuba. Why would you or anyone believe statistics published by communist dictators?

[MikeCT]

Originally posted by dhoward
, I would say by that logic food and shelter should be free too. Cable TV, ...

They are free ... in prison; healthcare too.