Only in America can you be denied health care for being sick

I know.. I know. Of all the posts to write after such a long break, I come back with this... the one thing that everyone is sick of? It's a big deal to me, something that needs to be done, and something that has generated so much waaarbargarbhal that I can only truly hope that Republican party dissolves into history and never heard from again in its current form - that however isn't to say that the Democrats are doing much better.

We currently have 45 million Americans without insurance. Either because they make too little and their employer doesn't provide it and they can't afford it or the people are just flat-out un-insurable. Of these 45 million undoubtedly some of them are going to go to the hospital at some point in the time being un-insured. And what happens when they do? The vast majority of them don't pay their bill. Most (if not all?) people under the poverty line are covered as is with Medicare/Medicade, but those who aren't are stuck footing the bill by them selves and if what I read was correct most people with those bills end up filing for bankruptcy anyway at which point we're footed with the bill. I already pay my medicare/medicade tax but yet I can't use it? If I'm already paying for other peoples health insurance why not just have the Government provide a basic level of care for everyone?

I'm not saying I want private insurance to go away, I don't agree with the Government coddling us from cradle to grave but we do need something to fill the gap. Purely market-based systems don't work. That's what we've had for the past (30?) years and it's done nothing but screw us time and time again as people are denied claims or told they're un-insurable due to one reason or another. I'd sure as hell rather have the government standing between me and the doctor then an insurance company. At least I get a vote in the government and they aren't allowed to discriminate.

Insurance companies are for-profit, and in most cases they don't give a damn about what happens to the patient as long as they get a profit generated for their shareholders. My daughter was born almost 11 months ago and I still get letters from the insurance company that says "We over-paid, you owe another X amount". I cannot tell you how many times I've gotten those letters since Olyveas birth and nothing frustrates me more.

And then we have the whole insanity that is called COBRA which is taking your current employer insurance with you when you leave your job. And the cost of taking my current insurance with me? $2,000-$3,000. I can't recall the exact number but it was over $2k. How is this okay? How are we willing to tolerate this? More importantly how are we willing to listen to the bullshit that Rush and Beck spew just to draw more buzz and generate more revenue. If ANYONE thinks that either of these two morons gives a damn about the welfare of common Americans they're in for a rude-awakening. They don't care about policy, they don't care about negotiating or getting anything done. They're out to pick a fight, generate buzz, and drive revenue. And yet we take what they say as gospel.

It's so frustrating to see all these morons bemoaning about them "losing their country". Well ya know what, talk to me when you repeal the Patriot Act, re-apply Habeas Corpus, or remove warrant-less wire-tapping. Let me know when you're willing to actually to talk policy and not spew partisan talking points.