Universal Healthcare

I spent this past week watching "Sicko" in bits and pieces (only because my kids kept interrupting me). I know I'm a little late to the game here, but I thought I'd better watch it, since healthcare is all we hear about it in the news. I have long thought that we needed some kind of overhaul to our present system. After watching Michael Moore's documentary, I'm ready to do something about it! But what? What do I do? I'm one little house mama with so much going on that it's hard to keep my head on straight.

We are the only industrialized nation in Western civilization without universal healthcare! Cuba has a better treatment rate than we do, and they don't turn anyone away, nor do the patients have to pay. Cuban hospitals treated a group of our American 9/11 workers because our systems wouldn't help them. I'll say it again: Our heroes had to go to Cuba to get treatment and healthcare that was being denied to them here in the US.

I won't talk about how beautifully universal healthcare works in Canada, England, and France, as well as other European nations. Watch the movie and find out for yourself. Do some research and look at the statistics. Citizens in other parts of the Western world live longer, feel better, are healthier and happier. They aren't starving because of higher taxes; they don't worry that their cancer treatment is considered experimental so they'll die before they get help. They aren't overworked, working more than 40 hours, not taking sick or vacation days, etc.

We have gone horribly wrong somewhere, and it started with healthcare for profit. If you know how I can make a difference (without money, cuz like you - I don't have any), where I can go to start a revolution or become part of one, please leave a comment with info. Heck, leave a comment about how you feel about this!

Thank You

America, for voting! For coming out in record numbers, for waiting in long lines, for being fed up enough to do something about it, and for believing that "Yes we can!" The road ahead is long, but now there is light at the end of it. Our new President-elect has called us to action. If you weren't involved in the campaigning, now is the time to get involved. If you were a McCain supporter, he has called you to action as well - to work together to make the change we all so desperately desire.

Our country was founded on revolution and the desire to create a flourishing environment for everyone, not just the nobles. We have become complacent and allowed "the nobles" to take over and force us into classes again. "We the people" means us - you and me, black/white, poor/middle class, single/married, whatever. We need to take it back, and now we have spoken and said that we do want to take it back. And now we have to follow through. Each of us in our own way can contribute to the cause of making this nation great again and bringing opportunity to everyone.

As for the Pro-Life vote, I just want to point out that a Republican vote for Pro-Life won't do anything to advance the cause. I am pro-life, and I mean that, not just anti-abortion which is what the Republican stance really is. Pro-life to me means respecting life from conception to natural death - that means not starting wars for oil. But I digress - I wanted to share with you a very enlightening interview with Judge Scalia on 60 Minutes that really made me see that voting Pro-Life as your only issue is simply a throw away vote.

"What is the connection between your Catholicism, your Jesuit education, and your judicial philosophy?" Stahl asks.

"It has nothing to do with how I decide cases," Scalia replies. "My job is to interpret the Constitution accurately. And indeed, there are anti-abortion people who think that the constitution requires a state to prohibit abortion. They say that the Equal Protection Clause requires that you treat a helpless human being that's still in the womb the way you treat other human beings. I think that's wrong. I think when the Constitution says that persons are entitled to equal protection of the laws, I think it clearly means walking-around persons,"

I find that interesting, that only walking-around persons are human. So death to the babies, the comatose, the mentally and physically challenged. To view the entire interview, click here. And I'd like to send you to one last article written about why Catholics can feel good about voting for Obama. Now granted, the vote is over, but for those of you who are "afraid" of what Obama years might mean to the socially conservative, this article may ease your pain a bit.

A new day has come and hope is on the way. For the first time in 7 years, I feel that 'yes we can' do it again. We can have the strength of the Reagan years and the prosperity of the Clinton years while building a clean environment and educating our children properly through the Obama years.

Thank you America for voting. Thank you Barack Obama for leading our people into a promising future. Thank you.

Requirement for State Assistance Checks?

I got this in my email today from an old friend in Arizona. I just had to pass this along.

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their BUTTS , doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

I have never thought of this before, but I think it's a lovely idea. Who should we write to in order to have this implemented?