the new plan, Stan...

So, the new healthcare reform speech...

I know it is a heated debate that no one seems to really know what they think or what is true and not true. Well, we all heard it from the man himself- he clarified all of the stupid lies and things that conservatives want people to think.

Without change, there is no growth, and whether we like it or not, the world around us is constantly changing and we need to get with the program and keep up.

Ok, anyway lets just lay out the facts (the facts that Obama said, not absolute Truth):

• The new plan will make existing health insurance companies work better for those who already have it and choose to have an independent health insurance. Those people that have insurance already through their jobs or Medicare/Medicaid will NOT have to change doctors, or anything really! You will actually have to pay LESS out of pocket money for hospital bills and doctor's visits, because a limit will be placed on how much the insurance companies can charge.
• Dental coverage for children will be included.
• Mental healthcare may be provided (it is in most countries with national healthcare).
• Private insurance companies will not be allowed to drop you once you have been receiving treatment, and they cannot deny you insurance because you have something wrong with you- that's what they are there for! And these big companies want to get as much money as they can with doing as little work as possible.
• The new plan will give people who don't have health insurance an opportunity to have it. STOP! So many people are saying- "Well those lazy people that don't work shouldn't be able to have it because they could go out and get a job and pay for it!" STOP! First- the majority of people that say this are the people that are well off, make enough money to support themselves and their families and have all the nice things they want. Well, it doesn't always work out for everyone like that. Millions of people work their asses off everyday- maids, handymen, self employed people, entrepreneurs, artists, day care workers, the independent young adult who is in school TRYING to better himself and probably can't afford Blue Cross Blue Shield for a minimum of ~$136.00/month (BCBS Alabama Individual/ 2008).

So, if you want people to better themselves and make something for themselves, you have to give them a chance. And yes, you do take the good with the bad just like in all situations, and there are those lazy bums out there, but that's just something we will have to deal with. And many of those lazy people have health conditions, which is why they are lazy (depression, anxiety disorder, OCD- none of these qualify for Medicare or Disability) but they are so poor that they do not go to the doctor and get their problems fixed, so they don't want to look for work because they know they will either a) not get hired, or b) get fired because of lousy performance.
The United States of America is the ONLY industrialized country that does not offer its citizens healthcare. ALSO, America has the HIGHEST prices for prescription drugs in the WORLD. Don't you think someone is getting rich off of you?
Single-payer health care is the system which the United Kingdom and Sweden use.

The term 'single payer' refers to funding and does not imply a socialized medicine system. A socialized medical system is one "in which all health personnel and health facilities, including doctors and hospitals, work for the government and draw salaries from the government" (Wikipedia.com).

This will not be the case.

Bottom line is, we've got to do something. And some form of this bill will pass, its just a matter of how much of it. We either sit back and remain stuck up in our old ways, or we get up and start doing something about it.

Peace y'all