Mar. 21st, 2010

catsittingstill: (Default)
Interesting article in the New York Times blog here.

I realize that people feel very strongly about this, but don't think this behavior contributes constructively to the discussion. I think this response from one of the Congressmen pretty much covers it:

America always has room for open and spirited debate, and the hateful actions of some should not cast doubt on the good motives of the majority, on both sides of this argument. But Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today. A debate that began with false fears of forced euthanasia has ended in a truly ugly scene. It is incumbent on all of us to do better next time.
Personally I am saddened that for several of my friends and friends-of-friends, lack of health insurance has resulted in desperate appeals for help paying medical bills.  The most recent appeal was worse--it was for help paying funeral expenses, for a guy who died of lack of health care at the age of 21.  Even from a cold economic standpoint this is a tragedy; the labor costs alone of raising a child are astronomical, as Bujold says, and here was this guy with his whole productive life before him gone, dead because he lost his insurance and couldn't pay for the the insulin to keep his diabetes under control.

Seriously, this is not right.  The status quo is not acceptable to me.  I hope it's not acceptable to you either.  We need to do something about it.  Admittedly the current bill is imperfect--even ugly.  And when you see the sausage being made, it's not unusual to lose your enthusiasm for sausage for a while.  But in my opinion an imperfect bill is still miles better than nothing at all.  And folks, the alternative is nothing at all.

Profile

catsittingstill: (Default)
catsittingstill

February 2024

S M T W T F S
    1 23
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Aug. 21st, 2025 07:17 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios