The last political post, because it's important to me.

So, I see from response that I have set off some feelings with some people. I think the measure of a man is how well he can hear another's opinion and not deride them. So,maybe instead of responding to attacks, I feel like the best thing I can do is too clarify just the most important thought I have, and to me, it's health care. First, I will say how I've shaped my opinion, it's personal. I have a sister who's husband owns his own company. They have no special health care problems outside of middle age and allergies. However, being responsible citizens they have bought there own insurance, at the rate of $900 a month now. Their deductible per person per year is $1000. She has had to pay $5000 to have two of her babies and found out today it's actually going to be $6500 next year. I am sure that if anything ever happens where they actually really need their insurance they will be kicked off. Most people with those situations have to choose between being unemployed or being poor enough for medicaid(sorry, sometimes I get medicare and medicaid confused-I mean the one that is available for low income, not the one for old people). One would say, go get a job with a big employer. And, maybe that is an option individually, but it isn't an option for America because big employers simply don't offer enough jobs for us all to work for them. And thank goodness we have lots of people who work for themselves or start companies. Lastly, I know what my sister goes through is not isolated. It is the case for a lot of people who must buy their own insurance. Competition hasn't helped. She has found it's just as much everywhere else, or they won't accept them at all.

I also have a friend with a grave illness because of a tainted transplant she received in the 70's as a baby. She again doesn't want to live in medicaid range, so they stay employed with a major employer, but because of her illness is so costly she purchases excess insurance and they spend around $2,000.00 on health care a month. She spends on average 5 hours a week on the phone just to get claims paid.

So I thought, what if everyone is right? What if socializing our health care brings down quality? I made a personal choice that if it did a little it would be okay for me. I would sacrifice a little to see good health care more available to others, not just those in certain big companies or wealthy enough never to have a limit.

Lastly, Canada and many European countries have socialized government run systems (which is different from the Obama plan, and Massachusetes), but I wonder if those who say their system sucks and come to America (I am assuming they are wealthy if they can come pay cash in the American system)....If they would be willing to live our system as it is lived by a lot of people. For instance would they draw a card based on income and whether they were self employed, worked for a big employer, or needed a lot of health care (like transplants) and live with those results as a lot of Americans do and still say that we have the best system?

I am lucky, my husband works for a big employer and when I did the math, about 15% of our income(not including the employer paid portion of insurance) goes toward health care. However, in order to limit costs, I joined an HMO. I do have limits. I can't go to just any doctor. I can't go to only but a few hospitals. I know that there are certain treatments my insurance won't cover. I know I have a lifetime limit and if things really got bad, I would hit it pretty easily. I don't think I have more options than people in socialized medical care countries.

I don't know what percentage of taxes we would have to pay to have a system, but even if it went up to 20 percent I think it would be similar. I can't remember the number, but I think that the employer pays at least the same amount that we do, if not more, so really, some would say it takes up 30 percent of our income. So I'm sure it would cost a lot of money, but doesn't it already?

I didn't like McCain's health care plan because I don't think the tax credit is nearly what it costs to purchase your own insurance. I know a few people who do, and it doesn't even come close.

I still haven't decided which health care plan I like better, The Obama plan....which is an employer mandate, supplemented by a national plan for those who can't buy their own...or outright Universal Coverage (closer to Canadian and European plan). But I would role the dice over what is available for a lot of people today.

I just think too many people don't get the care they need or pay way to much for nothing. I don't think that the system will take care of itself. It only seems to get worse.

So I hope that clarify's my opinion and maybe even create some understanding. I think logic is just as good as sources because although I wouldn't call myself a debater anymore, I did learn from that experience you can find a source for about anything you want to say, it doesn't necessarily legitimize you. We used to pick an opinion and then find someone who said something to agree with our thoughts.... and we always did. But even if you disagree, I won't accept that my opinion is ignorant or hastily approached.