Speaking about health care today

I've studied and written about the health care debate closely enough I've been asked to speak on it twice now. At 1 p.m. today, I'll be speaking at Community Church College (continuing education center) in Sun City Center. For all you across the globe who have no idea where (or what) that is, it's a retirement town just south of Tampa, FL near where I live. But obtaining health care isn't just a problem for people 55 and older anymore. Whether you want to believe it or not, health care has been rationed - no, worse yet- restricted- in this country for at least 30 years. No insurance often means no care. People die needlessly- just like they do in third-world countries, of things that could easily be diagnosed and treated. I was made personally aware of this when I became a freelancer. Although healthy enough to be raising grandchildren; mow my own grass; paint and clean my own house; and do all kinds of exercise; I cannot buy health insurance any price. No company will insure someone with a chronic health condition and I have several, although good habits and medicines keep me out of the hospital and on the move. "They" say "We don't want to be like Canada. Their health care system is socialism." So why do all the dual residents of Canada and the U.S. that I interview keep their Canadian citizenship and go there for their health care needs? "They" say if we have a government option for insurance, we're headed down the slippery slope to socialism. Well, The Patriot Act (the most unpatriotic legislation we've ever had passed in this country) has already pushed us over that ledge but we'll talk about that in a later post. Right now I want you to know that with layoffs at 40,000 (new) each month in America, employer-based health care is going to kill many more as time goes by. It's not that we who have changed jobs, have been laid off or work for ourselves don't want to spend money on health care, we who are already sick aren't allowed to buy it. And without insurance, the law says emergency rooms must only stabilize us (not ever admit) and send us home: unless of course it is a "charity" hospital and they are going broke every day. You see, it isn't a question of "is this person going to die?" but "is he (or she) going to die right now, in our ER?" If not, get them the %$#@ out of here. I know this because it has happened to me and I've not only been there, I've interviewed others who are going through hell right now because our healthcare system is broken from the inside out. Do Congressmen, Senators and (other "public servants" who make the rules) have to worry about their health care? Or their retirement funds? Hey fellas- why not start in your own homes? We the People need to make our officials live with any and every plan they legislate. So whatever side of this health care debate you're on, put yourself in the place of someone watching a relative die because he or she is not permitted treatment. It's happening every hour of every day right here in America. And for many, even if they have insurance, because costs are so outrageous that some hospitals and doctors are now asking for the 20-percent copay upfront. Please feel free to comment. And "followers" please send me your email so I can send you my free "Creative Yarnspinning" lesson if you want it. Remember, I promised it (usually costs $100) to the first 50 followers.