As We Often Say in the South, It's All Over but the Shouting

I admire President Obama for attempting to bring about reform of our poor health insurance system. It can be a political killer and it has taken its toll on him early in his presidency. I deplore the Republicans for their unwillingness to enter into a reasonable debate on the real issues. Instead they took their usual low road of "swiftboating" the plan. I deplore the Democrats for their caving in to both the Republicans and the health care industry with its large sums of bribery monies.

It seemed like such a great idea. Unfortunately, organized gun toting, screaming mobs were unexpected and have taken their toll on those with some sense. Other mainstream countries have adopted a universal system that serves them well, regardless of what the mobs say. However, this country is so backward thinking and so afraid of change that we will continue to fall further behind. More and more of us will lose our health insurance, and, thus, our health care in the next few years.

Frankly, at this point I do not know what it will take for us to come to our senses as a country and organize to do something about the mess that we find ourselves in now. Obviously, we cannot do it as long as the Republicans have their mouthpieces on talk radio and FOX News to influence the apparently large numbers of very ignorant people. People who will sacrifice their health insurance and, thus, their lives for their beloved right wing pols.

About the only good thing that has come out of this so far, has been the daily announcements from most of the major sponsors of the Glen Beck "show" that they are pulling out. I hope that sponsors of other right wing blowhards such as O'Reilly, Limbaugh, and Hannity realize the damage that these people are doing to the civilized nature of this country and begin to pull their support. Getting them off the mainstream broadcasts would do a world of good.

Having said all of this, I now pronounce true, effective health care reform officially dead. May it rest in peace until someone else has the courage to attempt it. May they be more successful than President Obama.