From the few hours I sat next to you, I could tell you were a)smart b)thoughtful and c)deserving of this opportunity. Thank you for sharing your experience and the links.

I hope we get to drink rum with a splash of Diet Coke together again!

Not long after I read this post on my snazzy iPhone I got into a heated debate in the hospital cafeteria with a hand full of strangers as Obama’s health care townhall was on the tv. Seriously, I could go on and on and on about these things and I am sure I have on eleventy million occasions on my own blog. I am NOT here to sabotage your comments.

… Rather to say I am wicked jealous you were invited to meet and speak with Ms. Jarrett. What an honor! Secondly, although I am not an expert and haven’t read the current proposed plan word-for-word, I’ve got people on The Hill that are keeping me abreast of His every move. (I like how I just capitalized ‘His’ as though I were referring to Baby Jesus. Hahaha!) I know change will come and I do not fear it. I know those of us (thankfully) with jobs and coverage and whatnot, will continue to have coverage. You know why? Because the rich white men on The Hill would never in a million years agree to implement a system that would gravely affect the privilege in which they live. Providing broke ass people with coverage? Fine. Diminishing the quality of your average Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage where rich white people can get body scans for the hell of it? Never in a gagillion years.

And lastly, I don’t think I ever commented on this but I am really happy to hear you’re giving up Jesus for Gefilte Fish. Your love for Slappy knows no limits and if that is what you think is best for your partnership, I think it’s great! I hope you continue to post about this spiritual journey.

As for your conservative readers who may or may not agree with that choice … They can suck it!

S

Change is needed. I know that. And we need to be open to it. In fact, a book I edited quoted someone who defined stress as our inability to adapt to change. So I do understand its significance. I just want to know that the plan–that any plan–that is implemented does more good than harm. That necessitates seeing the big picture. I want to be assured that our current government isn’t so busy putting out “local” fires that they can’t see the forest or the homes surrounding it.

Oh, how I wish Ms. Jarret had given ME her phone number.

Katie, you know that I am very blessed to have quality healthcare at a ridiculously low cost. I know I am in the minority with that. And I want to see everyone receive the same opportunity for quality healthcare without having to sell their firstborn. At the same time, I don’t want to lose what I already have only to have it replaced with a watered down version.

Am I selfish? Probably. I simply want to live. Do I believe we can come up with a plan to help others without diminishing what I have now? Of course. Do I trust that will be the case?

Um, no. Sadly, I don’t. Because I don’t believe that a problem that took years to create can be solved in a few short months by someone who is making a “goal date” more important the people he is trying to help.

I’m a product of the 60′s. I’m also a fairly liberal Democrat. I’ve marched FOR civil rights, AGAINST agent orange and the Viet Nam war, FOR a woman’s right to choose, and more. The government didn’t listen to us then.

Will they listen now? I sure hope so.