Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Pray for Congress

Whether you are for the President's health care plan or not, you should be appalled at the rotten sausage making that appears to be going through the grinder this week.

Using the "deem and pass" exception to keep from voting directly on the Senate bill seems cowardly at best, and bordering on constitutional blasphemy at worst. I won't argue the legality here, but surely the founding fathers never intended for very important and large pieces of legislation to be "passed" in this way.

I have agreed that health care needs revamping, and have even come to believe that every American of every class deserves at least basic health care. Most of this belief comes from the proven fact that people without insurance can certainly get at least urgent treatment at hospitals without having the means to pay. So the rest of us are all are paying anyway, so let's develop a system that works for all. I know full well that taxpayers will have to cover most of the costs, but covering the premiums seems cheaper than paying the entire bill.

Congress has gotten so far off track - both sides - that I think they actually believe what they are doing is right and ordained. Someone, or better yet, many of them, should form the Gang of 100 or whatever, and be actual statesmen and stateswoman, and work to save the Republic, not their own behinds. Wishful thinking? I hope not.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Crazy Weather

The hue and cry over global warming seems to be waning now, but the newer phrase, climate change, may gain more purchase with the weird weather of the last year.

Earthquakes in three countries within months aside, the tornadoes in Florida, incessant blizzards along the east coast, snow-melting warmth in Vancouver, and near record rains in the Arizona desert are just a few of the wacky things that can't be ignored.

I think we had more rain in Arizona desert than in the Everglades. There was snow in 49 states one week last month. Floods and mudslides are becoming more prevalent.

At least talking about the weather these days is not just a weak conversation starter.