Filed by Bil at 2:27 pm under Fightin' Words, Politics, Social Issues

Now that “Reading Rainbow” is done, what does the future look like? I’m worried because it wasn’t one of those things that fulfilled a specific basic human need. It’s not like it was the only pizza delivery company around; but if it was, you know damn well somebody else would pick up the torch. If there’s one thing that binds us all, liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, it’s the same — we all want our pizza brought right to our front door.

But “Reading Rainbow” was an added bonus of living in the United States. It was a privilege, not a right. One wonders: will there be something else now to enhance our children’s lives? Or will the last couple of generations be the only ones who got a show that special? Is Sesame Street on its own enough? I guess we’ll see. (Or maybe we’ll read about it…yes? I dunno. Maybe not.)

Speaking of privileges vs. basic human rights: Health Care. I don’t know much about the debate, and most of what I do know actually comes not from the bill itself, which is what everybody’s arguing about, but from reading between the lines in the frantic, almost demon-like rantings of the extreme nay-sayers. So, obviously, what I have to say on the matter is not exactly MSNBC-worthy.

Here is what I have to say, though (since I am a contributor to this blog, and I may as well say it somewhere): health care as it is right now is NOT OKAY. There are literally millions of people without any kind of health insurace; the numbers are different depending on who is speaking, but they are all in the tens of millions. Even if you don’t count people who choose not to use Medicaid, there are still tens of millions of people who can’t see a doctor.

That’s fucked up. Sure. No one rational will say otherwise. Here’s the kicker, though: I have health insurance. I have a PPO, no less. That’s better than an HMO. And yet, I am afraid to go back to the doctor.

Given certain signs, I really should get a second check-up about skin cancer, but I am scared to until I am REALLY SURE I HAVE IT, because the last time I went in they said, “No, no skin cancer, but you might have it later, so come again in a few months and get another check-up…” And then I received a bill for over $225. That’s a lot of money for a “maybe.” Over $225 for someone to tell me I don’t have skin cancer now but I might in the future. $225 that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois refused to pay. Even with a sweet-ass PPO plan that I pay LOTS of money out of each paycheck for.

Obviously, I can’t afford that (you can tell by the way I’m complaining…on a blog…on the internet). And that is the sort of thing that most insured Americans face — insurance in case something drastic and life-threatening really does happen, but not until then. There are more people like me in the country than people who don’t have any health insurance at all.

THAT is what needs to be fixed. I have not yet heard a rational argument that would steer me clear of saying “yes” to the Obama plan, but like I said, I don’t know the exact details and I don’t read expert analyses from trusted sources. (Unfortunately, not even “Reading Rainbow” could instill enough love of reading in me to make me go and study the bills of our politicians.) I’m just sort of sitting back and hoping it gets passed, because any change at all has got to be better than what we have now.

Arguments, anyone? I’m all ears.