It's my eldest niece's 4th birthday tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Serena!

Saw Sicko today.  I'm torn on the whole how to run a healthcare system question.  But the American system is undoubtedly the worst in the world, so going to a single payer would definitely be an improvement.

Why the worst?  Paying 60% more per capita on healthcare than any other country (and twice as much as most western democracies) and still not insuring even close to everyone (whereas every other western democracy does.)  That's a national disgrace.  The fault lies with the AMA, the Health Insurance industry, the corrupt politicians who are bought and paid for by lobbyists, and probably most importantly, the complicit and corrupt mass media, that treats this as an issue with 2 sides, when the truth is that a radical overhaul of the current system is the only rational and defensible side. 

Why am I not gung ho about single payer?  I grew up (I use that term loosely) in Canada.  I hated the idea that if I stayed healthy, ate right, exercised, and avoided hazardous activities I'd end up paying for someone else's gluttony, sloth and self destructiveness (or hypochondria.)  I still hate that idea (I'd rather pay for my own gluttony, sloth and self destructiveness.)  My 'ideal' system would offer free coverage for children and pregnant women, make costs transparent, lower barriers to shopping around and empower nurse practitioners to carve out a bigger piece of the medical practitioner pie.  That would lead to reasonably priced health care because it would introduce market forces into the equation.  Then, most prudent people would buy catastrophic coverage at a reasonable price (depending on their risk factors such as smoking, obesity, drug abuse, etc.)  Those who don't would have to depend on charity in the event of a serious health crisis.  But since Americans are more inclined to support a 'free lunch' than to support legislation that requires each and every adult American to be accountable for his or her behavior, I'd have to give the feasibility nod to single payer as a massive improvement over the current system, even if it falls short of my utopian ideal.

The compromise immigration bill went down in flames this week.  I don't have a strong opinion on this one.  My libertarian tendencies are conflicted because on the one hand it's a pure human rights issue (creating 2 classes of human beings is inherently wrong) but on the other hand I hate the idea of someone sneaking across the border, giving birth to an anchor baby, and then popping out another half dozen kids while they collect welfare and food stamps and fill our public schools with their children.  Most of my political theory dilemmas stem from the fact that it's very hard to punish the reckless and irresponsible parent without punishing the innocent children.

The mainstream media continues to devote its time to distracting, confusing and scaring the gullible and ignorant American electorate.  Stories of Paris Hilton (my standing rule is to change the channel whenever that name is mentioned) and half-assed so-called terror plots (like a car bomb in London that would have been hard pressed to destroy the car, and certainly wouldn't have caused any casualties to anyone not INSIDE the car) abound.  There are many important issues today that never even show up as a blip on the media radar:

First, impeach the war criminals Bush and Cheney.  That would send a signal to the rest of the world that we Americans get it.  That we respect the rule of law.  That we don't want to be considered a rogue nation anymore.  That we respect the treaties we've signed and will abide by them.

Second, end the occupation of Iraq.  The 'war' there ended a long time ago.  We crushed the Iraqi military and ended its will to fight.  We won the war.  We've utterly and irredeemably lost the occupation. 

Third, meaningful election reform.  As long as politicians are bought and paid for by lobbyists, they're going to pass legislation that hurts average Americans.  Politicians should have their political campaigns publicly financed, have their pay quadrupled (US Senators and Congressmen should earn $1 million / year, the President, $10 million / year) and then be held to the highest ethical standards to do what's right for America.  Voting machines should be required to produce paper trails.

Fourth, institute a $1/gallon gas tax and eliminate income tax on the first however many thousands of dollars that taxpayers pay to make it revenue neutral.  That would encourage conservation and alternative energy development.  That's essential for our national security.

Fifth, offer the healthcare industry an opportunity to fix healthcare.  When they fail, pass a single payer system.  We won't have the best healthcare system in the world that way, but we'll stop having the worst.

Sixth, end the death penalty.  Executing innocent people is unconscionable.  We've done it throughout our history and continue to do it (as determined by DNA evidence) to this day.

Seventh, well, on the seventh day, I guess we can rest.  After we get rid of the corporate stranglehold on our airwaves.

See you next Friday.