I am thankful for my health and that of my families.  I am thankful that I have access to healthcare and that my healtcare company as paid for what we have needed–with gaining preapproval of course.  I am thankful that my belly is full and that I don’t know what it is like to go to bed hungry and not know where my next meal is coming from. 

I am in the middle of watching Michael Moore’s Sicko.  I think I want to live in France. Anyway…wanted to post before I forgot.  Will comeback later tonight (but probably tomorrow) to edit and add more to this post. 

Wishing you all health and happiness…

Okay I am back…I have read a few otherposts today about Michael Moore’s movie and the health crisis in America.  The whole health-care crisis saddens me.  I feel very strongly that people who need services should receive them.  Who are these corporate money-hungry bastards to tell us what we can get medically and not–when their bonuses are tied to how much money they save the company (i.e.–how many people they deny service/claims).  Do we really believe that they are making the best choices if they have to choose between saying yes to a multi-thousand dollar claim and getting a multi-thousand dollar bonus?  If you do…I am sorry for you and I am sorry for our system that keeps rewarding these gatekeepers. 

I also admit that Michael Moore only presented one side of many of the stories…as I am sure was his MO and also the fact that I am sure he couldn’t get cooperation from the other side on many occasions.  There is more to all of this than what we see on the surface.  But he did make a few great points in this move.  Our government isn’t afraid of us.  They are not at all worried about what we think nor do they really even care what we think.  They care what the lobbyists think.  The government is run by the lobbyists and not by the people it was meant to serve.  This is a problem as the health-care industry has 4 times as many lobbyists as we have members of congress.  That is a pretty big ratio and you can bet that each member of congress is being wined and dined by those 4 lobbyists. 

We are also a country that does not care about its citizens.  Not just the government but its other citizens.  Those who have think they should keep and those who don’t have–well often enough they just give up.  Most other western industrialized nations believe that those who have have a social responsibility to help out those who don’t.  Not handing out money–but paying more in taxes, etc.  We are the only western industrialized country that does not offer universal health-care.  Why do we ignore each other?  Why do we think that some of us are more deserving than others?  I am not talking about a redistribution of wealth but just a health-care system where everyone can go to the doctor and get the care that they need (not elective surgery–the government doesn’t need to pay for boob jobs, tummy tucks, and face lifts). 

How has the nation that was founded for the people gotten so far away from what the people need and deserve? 

It has been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The want of money is so quite as truly.–Samuel Butler

Isn’t it time that we loved each other?