The Political Machine

I've said it once, and I will say it again. Politics and political parties make me want to say:

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Because we are sure as hell not getting anything done the way things are now. As I've gotten older the stakes have gotten higher, with the happenings on Capital Hill becoming more interesting/important to me. For a while things like furloughs and budget cuts seemed like some far off problem for someone else, until they literally hit home and affected my family. And now I find the current government shut down personally affecting me; today should've been the day that I restarted my internship from last semester, except now with the government stalemate in D.C. places like the CDC are basically shut down until some resolution is reached.

So while I've got a lot of emotions like the sapster above, mine are a little different. I'm mad and frustrated by the incompetence. I'm pissed off that politics has become more about blocking a bill because it's endorsed by another political party and less about the actual issue at stake. And I'm disgusted at how such a great country as the U. S. of A. can lack a basic guarantee to healthcare, one that every other industrialized nation in the world has. How is it that we spend the most but enjoy middle of the road health?

If you aren't sold on the idea of universal healthcare (if you are still a little confused, it's a complicated thing and I def don't have everything 100% ironed out in my head yet, so head on over to slate.com and read this simple article), I'd suggest reading this gem by Ezekiel Emanuel (yes, Rohm's brother). He presented to my bioethics class first year, first semester at UVA and I've been hooked. It's a simple, well thought out argument about how healthy citizens make a strong nation. And even though some may argue that the rich will end up paying more for things like Obamacare, I guarantee that we are still paying the brunt of things when those who are not insured finally have to go to the ER to seek medical treatment.

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**I am also well aware that this may cause some drama and people to get all mad and feisty with me. Bring it on Biddies, the world needs more intelligent discourse.