One of my preferred strategies for dealing with things is the so-called "Scarlett O'Hara defense." This is where you pledge to not worry about something unpleasant until tomorrow, "because after all tomorrow is another day." Believe it or not this can be quite effective. But early in Obama's speech he did a good job of kicking 'ole Scarlett to the curb—"And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day."
Ahem. Basically Obama took all of us, politicians and regular Americans to task last night. And what should have felt like a trip out to the old woodshed of yore, didn't turn out to be as painful as one might imagine due to Obama's masterful oratorical skills. Dude can blend a tongue lashing with optimism in a way I never quite imagined—"Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders, and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again."
When he started in on healthcare, to be perfectly frank, my jaw dropped. An American goes bankrupt every 30 seconds from healthcare costs? That boggles my mind and yet it all makes so much sense. When the majority of people with healthcare have it through their employers, and when you have employers who are offering what can only be described as catastrophic plans with ridiculously high deductibles then you have a recipe for disaster on an epic scale. Lose your job, lose your healthcare coverage. And god forbid you are someone with a healthcare problem and try to buy a plan on your own, you will probably spend more than your mortgage, if you can even find someone willing to cover you. I would LOVE to hear a realistic plan from the GOP to solve this little quagmire. And savings accounts aren't going to cut it.
"We are not quitters." Maybe it is time to let Scarlett rest in peace and just remember that phrase when things get you down. After all it came from a brave, southern girl too, someone real and the time has come for Americans to deal in reality.
2 comments:
Don't know about you but I keep hearing people bitchin about Obama and his plans--as if he put us in this mess and as if they have any better ideas! Give the guy a chance, people. The common thread in all this is that it's some "ism"--socialism, communism, whatever. Hey, I don't care if it's Satanism, Dadaism or anything else--just as long as it works. Hmmm, I think I have a new "ism"--REALISM!
Well the people bitchin' are pundits and commentators on the right, who aren't offering ideas, only complaints. and what is most interesting is Obama's approval ratings. the general public is largely happy with him a) because he is doing what he said he would do when he was running and b) he is freakin' doing something!!!!
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