There are some things like access to health facilities that should be beyond the reach of politics. When I had a job, I was paying $6700 a year for medical insurance. When I was laid off, I almost had to go without except that Obama's Stimulus package pays 2/3rds of my medical. I can pay the rest out of "the dole". If I didn't have that, I would have to go without medical. That would mean that one trip to the hospital and I lose my house.

Now I know that nothing is free. Money makes the world go around.

However, here in the states we pay more for healthcare than any other country, but we are ranked 37th in the world for healthcare. Our current system relies on private insurance businesses to fund our healthcare.

You have no money for premiums, no doctor.

Instead, people wait until they are too sick and go to the hospital Emergency Room. This is extremely expensive for the hospital (both in doctor's time and money) and the care given is just enough to get the patient out the door. Caring for the poor has caused problems with hospital finances which either pass on the costs to the insurance companies, or in some cases close their doors.

As far as people with insurance, they have other problems. Insurance companies don't have to take people that are "poor risks". Insurance companies can choose what procedures they will and won't cover. Some insurance companies can refuse to renew customers. So as far as the Right's claim of "Obama's Death Panel" Boogey Man, we already have a corporate funded death panel telling people who can and can't live.

Now the insurance premiums. Every year they go up. One year my raise was negated by my health insurance increase. The health insurance industry's claim that health costs are forcing premiums up, which I can understand. However, in the last seven years the Health Insurance industry's profits have gone up over 420% while paying their CEOs an average of $11 million a year. At the same time, the number of people without health insurance has gone up 25%.

I am not surprised this is happening. It is just the continued gutting and plundering of the country. A process run by Wall Street and applauded by politicians.

The only thing Obama is trying to do is get the healthcare insurance costs under control. If having a government health insurance option can get the insurance companies to control their costs, I'm all for it.

Look at Decision Games Computer War in Europe....

I did well in that regards the second time around. She is here on the site as well....

Stephen:

Welcome to a great place. Sorry to hear about your game collection.

Smitty

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http://www.boardgamegeek.com/graphstats/28284