Musings on Life and Living

So my father-in-law and at least one friend have asked me to explain why I feel that Obamacare will wreak havoc on the health care system as it currently stands. I have also been asked to explain why I believe a capitalist-based system would be better. So, in my very non-professional, non-expert, and very biased way, I shall attempt to do so. First: why is Obamacare so bad? I have a number of reasons. Here they are, in no particular order: 1) Pres. Obama's plan is to force employers to provide health coverage for all of their employees. Those employers who have small businesses with a certain number of employees will be exempted from this requirement. Individuals who work for such companies, or work in jobs that do not provide coverage (because the employee is part-time, etc), as well as those who are below a certain income threshold, will be able to buy into a government-run plan (that is somehow different from Medicaid, although I am not sure how). What is the result of these pla...

I have been without health insurance since July 2007. Crazy, I know. I was also without health insurance from about January 2005 until January 2007. The only reason I had insurance in between was because I went to Australia for a semester and had coverage as an overseas student. Gretch and I have been trying to arrange health insurance through a somewhat local provider (actually in Mattoon), but we seem to have had trouble contacting the man possibly handling our potential account. Yeah, real specific and certain, I know. Anyway, in the midst of all this, there is of course the supposed debate about health care reform going on in America. I called it a supposed debate because, honestly, I am not hearing much actual debate. What I hear is the President telling Congress to pass the reform that he wants. The Republicans are saying that the proposed plan is bad, but they have as of yet to offer a viable alternative. The Democrats are saying that whatever President Obama wants, President O...