On the general idea of health reform, I believe ted kennedy had it right on. The status quo is not okay, and reform of healthcare is more a matter of justice, than a partisan effort. On the general ideas in play, I liked what I heard. All people should have some sort of access to health coverage. Insurance companies need to be held accountable. There needs to be efforts to reform liability. nobody disputes these.

However, on the specifics of the bill... there seem to be many flaws unaddressed. 

Cost: repeatedly, it was said cost will be covered through "Savings" among other minor revenues. I was not convinced there is a competent means to pay for this healthcare reform, and remain skeptical of the debt it might occur.

Obama mentions that he doesn't want to hurt insurance companies, but the majority of the regulations and changes that are keeping insurance 'accountable' seem like they would also lead them to be unprofitable.. and thus..kill insurance companies. Some talk was made about how insurance companies can't have set maximums and out of pocket expenses will be capped, pre-existing conditions won't be accounted for, etc... All these costs have to go somewhere, right? If my out of pocket expense is capped, who's going to foot the bill? If insurance companies absorb the costs of all expensive procedures... won't they become insolvent?

It Does make sense that the system has a potential to work if you Forced everybody to buy health insurance...but since when does everybody really play ball. Does this mean this will create a ton of excess regulation and monitoring to ensure people have health insurance. Is this considered a violation of a person's right Not to spend money to insure their health? ... just things I thought of.

Why are so many procedures so expensive anyways.... we spend so much time demonizing the insurance companies, but what about the healthcare itself. Doctors (specifically specialists) are paid a Ridiculous salary in the U.S. (which also explains why we attract the best doctors and have the best healthcare system). Isn't something about that flawed? Shouldn't there be reform there as well? Something else to think about.

The public option that won't take away from medicare, that is self sufficient, that won't add one penny to the deficit, that will be competitive and won't undermine private offerings, and still provide good coverage.... Seems like a pink elephant. I have to side with Republicans here that the way its presented, the public option sounds incredulous. Yes, all people need to have some access to coverage if they don't have the means to get the cheapest plans....but Congress needs to figure out a more practical, realistic way to make it happen.

It was ironic to me that Obama was chiding Republicans for the misinformation they've been spreading and the Partisan bickering thats been going on.. and then several minutes later made a jab at Republicans for trying to push for a Medicare voucher system during the elections. Really...that wasn't necessary. 

Yes, Republicans have been retarded in their partisan bickering and demonising of everything Obama does as socialist reform. However, I'm sure there are aspects of this ridiculously long bill that Are controversial and don't make practical sense...that Republicans could make a good argument about (i.e. cost ). I kinda feel like Obama should've also spent some time chastising Hard core democrats for being stubbornly partisan as well, because I Know there are those in the Democratic party who aren't willing to find a middle ground also.

That said... I bet that Republican who made that huge outcry "You Lie!" in the middle of Obama's speech feels real stupid right about now. Republicans have gotten each other so riled up emotionally about how Socialist Obama is and everything he does...that they've turned into the irrational mob. as opposed to respectable intellectuals. I mean, seriously... the President of the United States is giving a speech, and you got people wearing a sign saying 'What Bill?' and people holding up a stack of papers as a means of heckling? really? How old are you? Your cushy job that my tax dollars support is to heckle the President? really? 

Anyways, back to health reform...

Health reform is a good idea that needs to get done. and Obama had it right on, that Yes, Congress could put it off yet again, but wouldn't it be that much greater for Congress to rise up to the challenge and get the ball rolling. No,  the bill isn't going to be perfect, but at least it'd be a step in the right direction.

Something that Does worry me about this health reform though... (and this topic is from several news articles) Even if health care is suddently available to everybody. There is currently a Dearth of primary care doctors. There are not enough primary care doctors in the system to support such a huge influx of patients. That, in itself is a whooole 'nother issue about how to promote more primary care physicians..instead of specialists (who make like... 5 times more). 

One other thing that kinda bothers me...health care reform is being pitched like soon Everybody can have the Best coverage that will cover all their illnesses and procedures, including the most prohibitively expensive ones, but I'm pretty sure that's not the case. There will still be different levels of coverage(it just makes sense, right?). There will Still be people who won't have access to some sort of procedure/therapy that Could potentially save their life, but is prohibitively expensive/exclusive. That said, Basic healthcare still needs to be addressed.

Phew, its late. and I'm tired. 'night

End Rant.

On christianity - So i'm reading an apologetic book (Is Believing in God irrational, by Amy Orr-Ewing) that addresses such arguments as 'christianity is a psychological crutch', 'isn't it naive to not try all religions', 'if God is so good, whydo good people suffer', etc.. stuff that I've often contemplated yet have never really found the answer to. One of the chapters addresses the common argument of 'If Christ is supposed to transform your life, why are there so many bad christians' or something along those lines.

There were ultimately three responses to this:

a) Christianity in its essence is about the brokenness of human nature and the beuty of Christ's redemption. people often assumes a christian should imply someone who is of a higher moral standard, yet in actuality, christians are broken people that acknowledge their flaws and their sin and are pursuing Christs forgiveness. So, in essence, christians are composed of 'flawed', sinful people that are seeking transformation through christ. well, thats the summary version but yeeah. Of course, that in no way implies that Christians should stew in their sin and continue in their sinful ways, but rather provides an explanation of why some christians are viewed from the outside as bad.

b) Spectacular failures. it was touched on throughout the book that it is often times, in scripture and in modern life, great spiritual leaders have epic failures and commit grave sins. i.e. David committing adultery and murder, Peter denying Jesus, the pastor that cheated on his wife, etc... In essence, these epic fails are frankly a result of our human nature and yet another demonstration of God's grace. These were holy men, yet ultimately, they slipped up due to their human nature, yet at the same time they were forgiven and redeemed in the long run.. seeking Jesus.

c) Some 'christians' really aren't christians at all. Simply put, there are many who say 'Lord, Lord, yet do not know Jesus'. where their actions in life do not reflect their faith, and their is no transforming work being done in their life. These are the most destructive to christianity in general, because often these are the people that give christians a bad name.

Anyways, that was the summary of the chapter I read through. Twas quite interesting. 

Reading through this really got me thinking though... what does my life say about me? Has their been any transformation in my life? Is God working in my life?

To be honest, often times I am ashamed to be associated with Christianity. I hate the feeling of being judged. I worry that I'm giving Christianity a bad name...I feel hypocritical. I hate the feeling...that when people know you're a Christian, they expect you to be holy, when really I'm not..or don't act it. I'm ashamed of the gospel and shy to evangelize partially out of my own timidness, yet also because I can't answer a lot of these hard questions about Christ. I struggle so much with my own faith and have so many of my own doubts and questions, how could I possibly promote Christ to someone else.

I'm a terrible christian... in all truthfulness... my bible is coated in dust I haven't read it in that long, i have no accountability, and i really only pray occasionally..on a whim. (prayers for my food to taste good don't count). I play bass for a church i barely attend, which is kinda good. I've contemplated renouncing my faith before and just giving up being Christian. I won't lie. Life would be much easier to not have those lingering expectations... to be holier..to be more righteous. Sometimes I wonder perhaps growing up in the church, I've been brainwashed and conditioned to believe what I believe (and maybe there's some truth to that), yet at the same time that doesn't mean that what i believe isn't true. 

and really, I'm grateful that the God still convicts me and tugs at my heart, and hasn't totally abandoned me. those expectations to be a better person I'm guessing are a good thing. It's so hard for me though..to act. 

Have I grown at all over the last several years? 

The persisten question I've been subconciously asking myself the last year or so is.. What the heck am I doing with my life? where am I going? 

ugh. tired. There was going to be some reflections on Friendship/Community, and what it means to be a real man, etc.. but I guess those will wait for another night.

kudos to anybody who's actually bored enough to read my thoughts.

uber kudos for still checking xanga. 

Let's encourage people to go out and spend more money they don't have and be in debt... o_O

granted, not all people are fiscally irresponsible like that, but I'll guarantee you there's tons of dumb people right now thinking wow, free gov't money?, let me go trade in my car and be 15,000 dollars more in debt. Nevermind my rent, the however thousands of dollars I owe the credit card company, and the minimum wage job I have.

Just some political cynicism. 

Ultimately, depite how you govern, human stupidity will ruin everything.