Everyone who knows me even a little bit knows that health care is a hot-button issue to me.   It has been since I’ve been an adult, regardless of what “the big issue” in the world is or not.  So now that health care is on everyone’s mind, I guess it makes sense that I should say something.  But I’ve been reluctant.

Why?  Oh my stars… there has been some evil, mean and rather ignorant attitudes on the subject.  And the level of venom that has been spewed has, instead of inspiring me, has made me sad.

I’m so sad because I hoped for more and expected more from the citizens of this great country of ours.  I know it’s fairly naive of me to want to believe the best of people.  But I like to go to sleep at night, thinking that at it’s core, most people are compassionate, reasonable and fair to one another.  And this whole health care business has shown me not a whole lot of compassion, reason or fairness.  It has shown me bigotry, selfishness and violence.  Yes.  I said violence.

News like this makes me want to cry.

I love my country and I won’t let anyone tell me I don’t, simply because I don’t have the same narrow opinions that they do.  And I think our country is capable of amazing and wonderful things.  Cars!  Computers!  Hot dogs!  Democracy!  Freedom for all! These are all wonderful things!

But for some reason, when it comes to health care, people turn their backs and refuse to hear any alternatives.  Because alternatives obviously equal socialism.  And socialism is just one step towards hell, in some people’s minds.  Don’t even get me started on the entirely ignorant and feeble-minded comparison of socialism to facism.  When I heard that one I think I died five deaths because SERIOUSLY?  Did you people pay attention in school AT ALL? It would be like comparing Democracy to a Republic.  No… more like comparing Democracy to a Monarchy.  Like comparing Democracy to COMMUNISM (and we know those conservatives can’t stand the word COMMUNISM).  Two completely, entirely different political systems and to paint a Hitler mustache on Obama because he wants all the citizens of this country to be able to receive quality health care only serves to demonstrate the most heinous ignorance I’ve ever seen.

Lets be honest.  I’ve never been a big fan of the second President Bush.  And while I disagreed with nearly every single one of his policies for eight years, I never once thought he actually wished our nation harm.  In my opinion, he most definitely caused us harm with his decisions, but I know better than to think that he set out to ruin us.  Apparently, for some conservatives such rational thought as that is just too difficult to bear.  But of course the only reason Obama wanted to become president is to drive this country into the ground, right?  Again with the ignorance!

Which also reminds me of the hypocritical nature of some of these conservatives.  For eight (very long) years, they demanded that everyone show Bush the respect that a man of his office deserves.  “You don’t have to like the man, but you must respect the office!”  Which, yeah, I couldn’t really argue with that.  Because you should maintain a certain amount of respect for your president, no matter who he is.  Sure, I didn’t like him well, but I generally tried to keep my snarky comments to myself and my immediate family.  Splashing outrageously disrespectful comments across the internet, while tempting, is not showing respect.  So what now?  Now these same people who demanded this presidential respect are the very same ones who are snarking at our current president in the same exact manner that they derided liberals for only two years ago.

Uhm?   Really?   And I don’t want to hear, “but they did it to our president, we can do it to theirs!” because last time I checked, this isn’t the fourth grade.  We are adults.  And shouldn’t we be modeling the behavior we hope to perpetuate?   Doesn’t a good example have to start SOMEWHERE?  If the liberals all jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, would all the conservatives have to follow?

Good grief.

At the end of the day, with politics completely aside, people deserve health care.  Human beings deserve quality health care.  Conservatives will say, “yes, but I don’t want the government to be in control of my health care!”  I will say this, “I would far rather it be the government than a greedy, selfish, money-grubbing corporation.”  Conservatives will say, “we don’t want our hospitals to become as mismanaged as the DMV!  Look what the government did with that agency!” And to that I say, “Is that the best example of a government agency that you can come up with?  Do you honestly think the same people who are in charge of the DMV would be in charge of running hospitals?  What about libraries?  Fire stations?  Police?”

People should not go bankrupt if they get sick.  They should not die while waiting for affordable care.  They should be able to see a doctor when they get sick, receive prescriptions that they need when they need them and the decisions should be back in the hands of the patient and the doctor.  Insurance companies only want to make money.  And while making a profit isn’t a bad thing, when it comes to people’s lives and their health, that isn’t the place to be concerned about profit.  Health care shouldn’t be only for those who make enough money, have never been sick or are lucky enough to have a job that provides great insurance.  Health care should be available to everyone.  No matter who they are.

Yes, even the conservatives.

I’ve noticed something this week.  Moreso than I noticed in the week or so after the election.  I’ve noticed a LOT of whining. 

Not from the Democrats.  Not from the people that got hung up at the gates trying to get to the Mall to see the inauguration.   Not even from most of the media (and yes, I’m including some conservative media in this).  But from Republicans.  And not just any Republicans.  But the ones who chuckled at the Democrats who were depressed after the election in 2004 and even 2000.  I remember vividly hearing Republicans say, “Stop whining!” when Bush was re-elected over Kerry.  I recall Republicans teling Democrats to just get used to the fact that Bush was the President instead of Gore in 2000.  ”It’s better for the country” was the common refrain back then.  All this complaining and doomsaying would be bad for our nation.  It was divisive. 

So… I have to wonder… why are these SAME Republicans whining, wailing, doomsaying and gnashing their teeth now?  Is it somehow better in their opinion to complain about an elected leader (and dare I say, a leader elected by a far larger margin of victory) when it’s not someone of their own political party?  Becaues that is exactly how it looks.  It makes them look like hypocrites.  It  makes them look petty.  And small.  And worst of all, small-minded.  

I want to beleive the best of people.  I really, really do.  But I have had it up to here with the double talk.  The old “it’s okay for me and mine to do it but if you dare to try it then you’re toast.”   And I probably wouldn’t care but people who have thought and believed as I do have been called all the names in the book for the last eight years.  We have been called unpatriotic.   Simply because we questioned our President’s decisions.  Simply because we don’t like the guy.  ”We’re at war!  You need to support our President during a war!”  (I could say it’s just as important to support the President during a financial crisis too.)  (And not to mention that we’re still at war.)

You know what?  No, you don’t.  I’m not saying we could/should/etc march on Washington D.C and stage a coup.  I’m saying that in the privacy of our homes, among friends/coworkers/people on the street and on our blogs, we should be able to question our government without a group of small-minded individuals questioning our love for our country.  

So yes.  These whiners, these Republicans who are so very bitter about the new President, are allowed to bitch, moan, whine, complain and doomsay.  I’ll defend to the death their right to do so.  But I don’t ever want to hear those same people tell me I cannot do the same.  Never again.

It doesn’t seem fair somehow that it should be Friday.  I mean, it feels like the week only just started.  Which, you know, it DID.  But I’m definitely not complaining.  

This morning finds my mind full of all sorts of stupid things so I need to empty it out here on the blog so I can move on with my day. 

• We’re FINALLY getting some inclement weather.  Sure, it’s rain and not snow but at this point I’ll take whatever I can get.  I love love love looking outside and seeing the dark skies and foggy mountains.  It makes me feel so much more… mellow. 
• It’s looking like maybe, just MAYBE, I’ll finish my knitting project on time.  But I made some stupid mistakes last night because I was in such a hurry.  The good news is that I know what I did wrong and can make sure not to do it again next time.  But it still ruffles my feathers that there are flaws.  That’s what I get for being in such a hurry. 
• I’m selling off some old diapers that weren’t really working for us anymore and used the money from that to buy some new diapers that will (*cough*goodmama*cough*).  I’m excited for new diapers and just love that I can sell diapers in order to buy more.   And I also love having an excuse to stalk the mailbox next week.  Nothing beats getting some mail! 
• After eight years, I am just SO TIRED of political arguments.  If there’s anything the Bush years taught me, it’s that arguing with “the other side” does absolutely no good.  There’s no changing their minds and they can’t change mine so why even bother?  Still, hearing the same old rhetoric makes me want to bash my head into a wall.  I’m sorry, but no matter how hard you try, you jus’t can’t change history.  Sheesh. 
• Evie slept good for a couple nights there.  She didn’t come in with us during the night and slept through!  Last night, however, was a different story.  I know she doesn’t need to eat, I just think she gets lonely.  She’s a snuggler, that one.  And (it tickles me to say), she’s quite the mama’s girl.  
• Have I mentioned her rolling?  Because it’s downright adorable.  Crawling?  No.  Pulling oneself up and cruising?  No.  Rolling?  Oh heck yeah.  She can outroll the best of them.  She does seem rather adverse to being on her feet though.  She still tries to turn one ankle inward and if I try to help her take steps while holding onto her hands, she just locks up her legs.  Poor dear just isn’t at all interested with being very mobile. 
• But she is a hungry lass!  She loves the veggie and the cheese puffs from Gerber.  You know, those things that look like puffy cheetos?  ZOMG.  She thinks those are the second coming.  She’d cram ten of them at a time in her mouth if we let her.  It’s nice to have a good eater after having a picky one. 
• Speaking of Liam, he’s a wooly child.  Does it cause him physical pain to just BE STILL for five minutes?  Because I’m starting to think it does.  He’s trying desperately to throw off his last remaining nap but I’m not ready to give it up yet.  And depending on his mood that particular day, he can be rather awful to Evie.  I have to watch him like a hawk.  The popular refrain “Liam!  No!” is heard often around these parts.  
• I can has my new MacBook?  I’m so tired of using this tarnated Google Chrome.  It’s refresh capabilities leave something to be desired.  

Okay, back to my knitting.  Take it easy, folks and enjoy your Friday.  Weekend time!  Wee!

It was quite a year.  There were ups and downs.  Today?  I’m going to cover the downs.  Because I’d like to finish on a high note.  I’ll either do the “ups” tomorrow or tonight or whatever.  I’m still on vacation.  Time is relative.

• The economy.  Ooooooohhhhhhh boy.  Yeah.  It sucks.  It is The Bad.  I don’t like to expect that we’re all going to spiral down into the abyss so… I try to focus on the positive.  But yeah, it doesn’t look good.  The economy definitely took a dump this year.
• The many depressing celebrity deaths.  There were many.  And they were hard to bear.  Some harder than others.  I mean, no more Heath Ledger!  Bernie Mac!  George Carlin!  This is very sad.  Shoot, even Eartha Kitt died this year.  Who’s next?  (Don’t answer that.  I don’t want to know.)
• My health.  Oy.  This is pretty much all my fault, I know.  But the fact of the matter is my health, like the economy, took a dump this year.  I’d really like to turn that around in 2009.  I’d like to feel better, physically and mentally.  I’m not sure I could feel a whole lot worse (you know, without something catastrophic happening).
• Weather.  Yeah, I’m not terribly happy with the weather we’ve had this year.  Maybe this has to do with global warming or something.  Less rain, less snow.  Sure, the summer was fairly mild but mild temperatures aren’t exactly a good thing.  We need moisture, ya’ll.  It’s sorta important.
• All those stupid earthquakes we had last spring.  What was up with THAT??  Talk about nerve wracking.  Let’s hope we don’t see a repeat of that in 2009, mmkay?
• The Van Registration Fiasco of 2008.  Cuz that whole thing has sucked rather hardcore, I gotta say.  Another moment from 2008 that I’d rather not see replayed in 2009.
• All the crap that went wrong with our house this year.  Our back fence, the busted windows… shoot even the balast that went out of our flourescent overhead light in the kitchen.   What the heck, yo?
• Bad TV.  BAAAAD TV!!  There was a lot of bad television shows this year.  That stupid show “Momma’s Boys” or whatever it’s called takes the cake.  That is the worst of the worst.  And there was a lot of “worst”, believe you me.  Even shows that used to be awesome sucked this year.  Like “Heroes”.
• Anything related to “High School Musical” or Hannah Montana.  HATE HATE HATE.  I’m so tired of seeing this licensed crap all over the stores and the television and everywhere else.
• Basically any news story or current event that made my eyes roll back into my head.  There were a lot of them.  Far too many to mention here.  Rest assured, if it was someone victimizing children or being a stupid ass, then it made My List.

There’s my list.  But you know what?  “Worst” lists aren’t any fun to put together.  Nope.  I’m far more looking forward to the “Best” list that I’ve been cooking for the last couple of weeks.  There was an awful lot of awesome in 2008, if you knew where to look.

So what tops your “Worst of 2008″ list?  Lets get it all of our chests now, shall we?

I know we’re all sick to death about the election.  Even those of us whose guy won last night.  Maybe ESPECIALLY those of us whose guy won last night (wasn’t yesterday completely nerve-wracking??).  I am so completely glad that I can watch television without fear of seeing ANOTHER election ad.  No more will I open my mailbox to be bombarded with postcards and mailers promoting or bashing a candidate.  That’s just awesome right there.

But before let this historic (and make no mistake, this election was completely and utterly historic) election fade into history and get on with important topics such as “When Will Evie Sleep In Her Crib?” and “Liam Is Single-Handedly Threatening My Sanity” and “When Will I Be Able To Take Thyroid Meds Again?”, I have a few last things to say about it all.

There are a lot of posts out there today about the election and the results last night.  Most of them, so far, are effusive in their joy and hope.  But there are some that are less so and these are by the people who were not Obama supporters.  One refrain I’ve heard a lot of in the last 12 hours is, “I’m just so worried about the future of our country right now!  What have we done?”  To that I say: “Now you know how I’ve felt the last 8 years.”  I have very, very little sympathy for the people who are wringing their hands and furrowing their brows this morning.  Because they had very, very little sympathy for me when Bush won both elections.  That may be small and petty of me, but it’s the truth.

I’ve spent 8 years being worried (and I think history has shown that I had a right to feel worried) about our country.  And now I see HOPE on the horizon.  So I’m going to embrace that hope.  Feel free to revel in your cynacism, your doubt, your discouragement… Nothing I can say will help you feel better anyhow, I imagine.  But think for a minute that if you just let go of that worry that maybe it would be easier to move forward.  I had to do that with both elections.  You could say I’m well practiced at it.

And don’t get me wrong.  I don’t think Obama has all the answers.  He is just ONE man.  And the problems facing our country are HUGE right now.  Surely, he’ll make mistakes.  And I fully expect to call him out on those mistakes.  ALL presidents make mistakes.  (Just turns out, some make more than others.)  (*cough*BUSH*cough*)  He’s not PERFECT.  But I do believe he has the ability to help us move forward.  I believe in him and I believe in our country.  THAT is what this election was about and THAT is why I voted for Obama.

The work is just starting.  And for the first time in a LONG time, I feel like we can do it.  We have a chance.  And just for today, I want to feel happy about the status of the world out there.  Don’t rain on my parade, mmkay?  I’ve waited a long time for this.