ThirstyFish

Talk about putting words in someone's mouth. In reality, I have no clue why he was in such deep thought. I didn't get a chance to properly compose this candid without him noticing me, hence the Pharmacy sign over his forehead. Sorry old guy.

In the U.S., healthcare is increasingly becoming a disaster for many. The for-profit healthcare system, for those who can afford it, offers decent to great care, but, for those who lose their jobs, or who have preexisting conditions, it is a nightmare. The U.S. healthcare system ranks #1 in costs and #36 in results among nations. Healthcare related bankruptcy is on the rise. Healthcare costs have nearly doubled in the last 10 years, whereas median wages have declined.

Healthcare is one of the best indicators of a shift towards plutocracy. The healthcare lobby is hard at work, influencing the congress and waging disinformation campaigns. The pending Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is actually a deflection from the real healthcare debate. Once again, as is with the financial system, there is hardly any difference between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to healthcare.

What amazes me is how impressionable some Americans are. Can we really blame them, given all the disinformation that is out there? This comment summarizes the confusion: "I don't want government-run health care. I don't want socialized medicine. And don't touch my Medicare".

There are 50 million uninsured Americans. Although many so called media pundits would lead us to believe that this is their own fault, the fact is, with jobs shipped overseas, increasing income inequality, and tax codes that favor corporations, opportunity is on a fast decline for the majority. The social safety net, which once allowed citizens to recover during hard times is under attack, including Medicare and Medicaid. If history is any indicator, it is not unreasonable to say that we are not heading in the right direction.

Song of the Day: No Sense - Cold Chisel (1983)