No public option is NOT an option

I know my loyal followers will be disappointed to know that I will be skipping the harrowing prequel storyline of my battle with sleep, (*crickets chirping*) but after reading some of the day's news, I am just too upset to regale you with the tale. Somehow, I'm sure I will be forgiven.

A small, yet powerful headline in my local paper today states "Public option opposition grows." All I can think to say is Why?! Why oppose a public option? Why are our lawmakers so damn fearful? Why continue to play with people's lives? Why?! Why?! Why?!

I'm not sure I can fully express my thoughts and feelings in the time I have right now in a concise manner. (Son will be awake soon.) Therefore, I'll touch on some specific points and thoughts. As the battle continues, I'm sure I'll write again on this subject in the days to come.

Point #1: A government option is just that - an OPTION. Yes, the changes to health insurance (including no denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions) are desperately needed and will help the average everyman tremendously. But, why not give the American public as many options as possible to choose from? Since my family and I have to have health care coverage (both as a practical means and eventually by law the way things are going,) I want as many options as possible to choose from. That way, I know my family will have the best care possible. America prides itself of freedom of choice. Why not give us one more?

Point #2: The government is already in the "business" of running health care. What the hell would you call Medicare and Medicaid? Are they run as efficiently and as personable as they should be? No, but after having to deal with both the likes of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and other companies in the BUSINESS of health care coverage and then dealing with all the ins and outs of Medicaid, I promise you that there is VERY little difference. If I have to jump through all the same hoops and kowtow before every administrative wannabe to get my family's coverage, I'll do it. I don't care about the name on the door. I just care about what I'm receiving for my money, plain and simple.

Point #3: It's all about the money and the power. I have come to believe that this is the true root of the opposition. Health care is a business. Period. The insurance companies give the appearance of caring about people, but in the end, it's their bottom line that speaks the loudest. The American public balks when a company makes decisions that pad this bottom line, failing over and over to remember why they do. Businesses are in it for the profit, whatever it takes. This means cutting expenses and increasing revenue. Economics 101. We, Mr. and Ms. America, are buying a product (health care services.) Insurance companies are in business to provide that product for a fee. If we are a good source of revenue, they will continue to serve our needs. If we are costing the company money (expense,) they will find a way to eliminate us. Having a heart or a little thing called Compassion has nothing to do with it. Those small details eat up profits and shrink the bottom line. Sad? Harsh? Yes, but unfortunately true.

Can you tell I worked in retail management for many years? Soul sucking, vampiric area of business. Makes you appreciate the smaller, free details of life much more. Especially around the holidays. I give thanks every day from October 1st to February 15th that I finally left that sector of business. Of course, then I spent 2 years working for an insurance company; an eye-opening experience to say the least. So I do have some understanding as to what I rant above.

Another quick $0.02 point... I find it interesting/offensive/not surprising that the politicians were so quick and eager to fund bailouts for the banks, but seemingly refuse to fund options and strategies that would greatly help most of the American public. Just because they personally won't benefit from these services (at least not in their present jobs) doesn't mean they can play with our lives as they are doing. I see the old adage "Birds of a feather..." in play here and it stinks like yesterday's diapers in the hot summer sun.

So I pose some questions... Should health care be run as a for-profit business, as it currently is? If so, then should it be regulated? If not, then how should it be run? Who should run it? Will we ever see heart and compassion routinely within the system? How do we do this without destroying each other?

I hope we can find the answers and soon. I hope we can find that point in time where getting sick is not seen as happening by choice, where looking out for each other is as important as looking out for yourself, and that a healthy nation is a strong nation. We need to unite or we will crumple into pieces.