Everyone on TV seems to have an opinion about what the President should say in his address to the nation tonight. But we all know what they say about opinions. What I want to hear, is how the President's policies will affect my life. While I want to be hopeful about the future. I don't want hope where there is none. I want a realistic picture. For far to long, I have depended on "hope." Hope that we would get a new President, a new congress, a filibuster proof majority in the senate....all so we could get one thing.
Universal Health Care!
I haven't had healthcare for 2 years, and I have been dealing with it OK. But I realized yesterday, how URGENT it is to enact universal healthcare.
My step-dad works for General Motors, he is a hi-lo driver. He has worked there for 25 years. He is laid-off this week. He has been laid-off as much this year as he has worked. He is scared to death he is going to lose his job, his pension and/or his healthcare. I am sure just about as much as many other americans.
To complicate things...My mom had a mammogram this year, like she does every year. They found something "suspicious" that they want to "check-out," so she had a Surgical Biopsy yesterday. They said they will be able to tell us what it is in 3 days. I am hopeful that it is nothing...but only time will tell.
But, what if it is something? What if my step-dad loses his job like the 47,000 other employees of General Motors will this year? What if he loses his healthcare? What will happen to my mom.....
When the government bailed-out General Motors and Chrysler, the government put pressure on the automakers and the Union to not contribute to healthcare once an employee retires.
These are people, who have needs, what are they supposed to do? We have a system that lets insurance companies not cover people who have a "pre-existing" condition, when those are the people who need it the most. We have a system where people who don't have health coverage, don't get the treatment that they need.
If the government is going to force these companies to not offer health insurance, the government needs to offer an alternative.
I know that my diary is kind of rambling, I just have alot of thoughts going on in my mind now, and I am worrying about my Mom.