Historic day--Health Care Reform

This is an historic day. Health Care Reform will become law.

It's also a very good thing. It could be much better. It could include a decent public option. Or, better yet, some form of single payer system. Still, this legislation will help save lives. It will curb abuses by insurance companies. It will provide insurance to more than 30 million more people.

Don't believe all the vitriol from the right. This is not a government takeover of healthcare. Far from it. If anything, this bill entrenches the current system by curbing a few abuses but leaving the whole system largely in tact. Insurance companies will gain millions of new customers--most of which will be healthy, thus increasing the monetary pool from which to treat the ill. And, I think Pelosi was spot on when she noted that it frees workers from being stuck in shit jobs, or unable to start a new business, or take a job with better pay but worse benefits, for fear of losing their health insurance.

I do want to point out that there are potential problems with the bill. I think, for instance, that if the penalties for companies are not big enough, they may drop employee benefits, forcing more employees into the exchanges. That could raise costs.

It's not perfect. It's not single payer. But it is definitely a good start.

Otra vez

Unbelievably grim to hear of the earthquake in Chile after Haiti endured one. Just thinking about how lucky I am to have avoided such a destructive natural disaster. My sypmathies to the people of Chile.