Jottings and Questions III

Why isn’t there a big push in Canada from Canadians lobbying for the current U.S. healthcare system if the Canadian system is as bad as the republicans tell us it is?  And I know Canadians are supposedly flocking to Mayo, but are they also flocking to Fairview, or are they going to Mayo because it is Mayo?  By the way, an OEDC report showed that Canadians are five times more satisfied with healthcare outcomes than Americans.  Canadians have lower rates of infant and maternal mortality and a longer life expectancy.  And don’t mention their diets, because when I go to Canada, they always cover my fries in gravy.

Is anybody else disappointed that Barack Obama’s beer choice is Bud Light?  It fits, bland, vanilla, no controversy.  It was probably chosen based on polling.  But wouldn’t it have been fun to watch Fox News Channel falling all over themselves to read something in to his choice of a Molson, with their Canadian socialist healthcare system, or Heineken and how it obviously is some sort of subconscious longing to be in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.  It could have been so much more fun.

Choice of beer was not a question, but the Capitol Report has done a couple columns on the gubernatorial candidates favorites.  You know music, movies, books, stuff like that. I have a new found reason to support Tom Bakk.  He listed music by the Bee Gees and John Denver as favorites.  (Pause)  I admit it.  My name is Steve, and I listen to the Bee Gees and John Denver.  In fact, I not only have the John Denver ultimate collection, but I have downloaded it to my iPod.  That said, I’m not sure if I were running for governor I would admit that.  But I respect him more for it.  Of course, if you’ve met Tom Bakk in person, who is going to make fun of his music choices.

Marty Seifert was also interviewed for the favorites column.  I liked that he listed Star Wars among his favorite movie, but he lost all the respect he gained in my eyes when he said his favorite television show is Fox News. 

I signed up for Twitter last week.  I’m following a school board member who tweets a lot.  I’m not sure I get why… 

Heck, I’m not even sure I get Twitter…

Compromise Will Not Solve the Problem

This is a busy week for my family.  My middle son has hockey camp every day, and finishes three of those evenings with  two lacrosse games and a lacrosse practice.  My oldest son turns 12 on Friday, is having a friend birthday party, which will include a matinee showing of some movie popular with tweens and a family birthday party at grandpa and grandma’s house.  My wife not only is responsible for planning and getting those two to all of there activities, but she will tote around a four year-old while she does it.  Then to top everything off, I throw a little wrench into the whole week with foot surgery.

The great thing is, we have healthcare.  My wife can concentrate on the clock and the kids, without the added stress of worrying about how we are going to pay my medical bill.  Unfortunately, over a million Minnesotans don’t have that “luxury.”  I put luxury in quotes because that word was intended to be a sarcastic shot at republicans who think healthcare is a privilege, only available to those who can afford it.

Healthcare is right.  The Declaration of Independence says our inalienable rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Life is the first right, and yet 18,000 Americans die every year from preventable illness because they don’t have access to adequate medical care.  Do those 18,000 people each year just not have rights because they don’t have enough money?  And how can you pursue happiness if you are spending hours arguing with an insurance rep that sees a declined procedure as added dollars to the bottom line even when you do have access to healthcare?

It is a right.  I have always considered myself vary pragmatic.  I would look at an issue like healthcare, and I would be grateful for any baby steps taken that work toward improving the situation.  Do you know what I mean?  If we can’t fix something 100%, at least 25% is better than nothing.  Well I’m not so sure anymore.

How many of us are tied to a job because of health benefits?  Where is the liberty in that?  How much individual freedom would we have if society agreed that everybody deserves health benefits, regardless of job or income.  Freedom to start a small business.  Freedom to change jobs when you have a family member with what would be considered a preexisting condition.  Freedom to go see the doctor when you feel like you need to see the doctor. 

I don’t think I am willing to accept a partial solution anymore.  I want health benefits for everyone.  I want health benefits for my children when they turn 23 and don’t think they need them.  I want health benefits for the person who is depressed, who can’t afford medication, and by simply talking to a counselor might be prevented from committing suicide.  I want health benefits for the family in the large home in Apple Valley who find out their private insurance won’t cover their daughter’s illness, forcing the family into financial troubles.  I want a small business, to invest profits in the company, rather than increase their outlay on health benefits because one employee contracted a catastrophic illness.

We cannot live with a 25% solution this time!  We need 100% solution, total care coverage.  At a recent meeting John Marty said compromise will not solve the problem.  Compromise will not solve the problem.  There is a majority of us out there who want this, and we need to take the bull by the horns and stop letting people like John Kline spew scare tactic bull from their mouths. 

Speaking of John Kline, I saw a message he might (I’m not counting on it) be in Burnsville Wednesday afternoon at Burnhaven library. 

Congressman John Kline’s mobile office to visit Burnsville
Minnesota Congressman John Kline’s mobile office comes to Burnsville Wednesday, June 24.  Kline will make his stop there from noon-2 p.m. at the Burnhaven Library, 1101 W. County Road 42 in Burnsville.  

Rep. Kline will probably have some sort of rules that prevent you and I from speaking to him directly, or prevent him from directly addressing our issues, his supporters will probably be organized enough to have a control perimeter around him too, but it might be good to show up and attempt to engage him.