Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2009

Arlen Specter - new clothes, same old tired ideas

I have to admit I was at first heartened to hear of Arlen Specter's defection from the Republican party and his new affiliation as a Democrat. Then I watched him vote. What I interpreted is that he changed parties solely to win the Senate seat in PA when it comes up for re-election. He claimed to be more in line with the Democrat's agenda but so far I'm not seeing it.
To vote against the changes in the bankruptcy law was a big give away to me. He is just a Republican in Democrat clothing and I think it's time he retired. We already have one Joe Lieberman. We don't need another.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Overhauling our healthcare system

Today in Washington, President Obama will hear the voices of doctors, patients, business owners, and insurers [why aren't nurses mentioned? Don't they have a say in this too?] in order to formulate a plan to revamp our health care delivery system. Reportedly, our country spends $2.4 trillion a year on health care. Yet, I understand that an estimated 48 million [that's million] Americans still don't have basic coverage. The goal is for coverage for everyone in some form.
A lofty goal, indeed, but one whose time has come.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thank you, President Obama

Like many Americans last night, I tuned in to President Obama's address to both houses of Congress. I had high hopes for that speech and I wasn't disappointed.
As I expected it would be, the speech was filled with hope and promise, encouragement and comfort, but also a call to our better selves. The President not only laid out a plan for him and our leaders but called to each American to do their part. When was the last time you heard your President ask parents to pay attention to their children? It's been a long time coming.
I was also interested, as a nurse and as a consumer, to hear what plans he had for the health care industry. I think his plans are good [streamlining health records by taking them into the digital age, curing cancer, etc].
Addressing education will also help healthcare because some of our problem lies not with a lack of health care students but with a lack of health care teachers.
Targeting the high cost of health care will also be a big boon to the economy because that is something that is going to get worse fast if we are not proactive. The Boomers are going to need lots of care very soon and it's not free. Whether it's private insurance, Medicare, or out of pocket, someone is going to have to pay for it.
All in all, the President nailed it with his Address.
As for the Republicans, what can I say? Same old, same old. They really need to buy a clue.