... and for those of us living in MA, watching unemployment still rank higher than the national average, watching my downstairs neighbors still not able to afford healthcare (even tho' it's the law here in MA)... watching my dad hit the medicare Rx "donut hole" (although noted to be one of the first points of the new plan to be helped)....and watching me, lose my job in mid-May (after 10 yrs of working for my company) and trying to figure out, with all of my multiple ails, how I'm going to handle the extensive out of pocket..... well, me thinks I'll move me and da bloke, back to his "motherland" (ie: the UK) for healthcare.
OK, just kidding on that last point. You all are still stuck with me here.. and I'm still stuck in MA.
I guess that means you still plan to attend the AN brunch, right?
Besides, the NHS is notorious for it's waiting lists and sub-par care so I doubt you'd want to move to the UK anytime soon. Oh, and the current unemployment rate in the U.K. stands at almost 8% (
actually, 7.8%), a tad better than Massachusetts 10%-plus, -but not much.
Unfortunately, the new health care 'reform' law is nothing
close to what the politicians who promoted it claimed it would be. Medicare recipients (
Jim reluctantly raises his hand) will see their benefits reduced and taxes will most certainly rise -
on everyone - not just the elusive 'rich'. Major corporations are announcing the cost of the 'reform' and for big companies such as AT&T, it's in the billions (
with a 'B'). That won't spur hiring any time soon. This 'reform' was sold as a boon to the uninsured but all it will really do is lower the quality of our formerly excellent heath care system due to overburdening it and having costs shifted - but not really 'reduced'. The 'root out waste and fraud in Medicare' rationale used to sell how some of the cost of this 'reform' will be paid for was a fallacy from Day One. The revenue shortfall will be in the
trillions and new taxes will
have to be imposed to pay for it, such as the European-model Value Added Tax. This doesn't include the loss of jobs incurred when businesses downsize or freeze hiring to cover the increased costs of this health care 'reform' law. In short; we'll
all be receiving a lower standard of health care - and paying more for it. Folks with multiple medical problems, such as you, Phyl, and my wife, (
the lovely and gracious) Tina, will be getting far less medical help than previously and paying higher prices for what you
do get.
Everyone's health care choices will be curtailed, dictated by unaccountable government bureaucracies. I don't believe this is what the American people wanted. Health care reform, yes, but not a draconian alteration of our health care system, run by government bureaucrats and paid for with much higher taxes while we receive a reduced level of medical care, including rationing. As a very reluctant Medicare recipient, I'm deeply concerned. We should
all be concerned, deeply or otherwise. This is no small thing that 'other people' will have to deal with. This will affect every American in one way or another. Politician's attempts to deny the unpleasant realities (in our health care) that they've wrought or simple partisan political loyalties that want to see only the positive (
'everyone is covered!') won't change that. I wish that they could.
To quote the libertarian/conservative journalist P.J. O'Rourke:
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free. Well, the waiting is about over and the harsh reality is coming to your house very soon. You may want to call a doctor. No, wait, that probably won't be covered by the new health insurance 'reform' law. Oh, well. I guess elections really
do have consequences, which is why I can't wait for the next one (
November 2nd - mark your calendar).
Jim 
