Gas Pains

Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.

Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.

Observations From the Big Fat Middle

Silly People, Public Policy, Healthcare

First my friend Christine opined on this subject.  I got to thinking - What a thoughtful, reasonable and well-articulated take on the subject.

Then I had lunch with a buddy yesterday and our normal discussion of hunting and fishing took an acute right turn to the subject of health care reform and euthanasia. 

His rather thoughtful, reasonable and well-articulated take on the subject was - Anyone that goes through life without a current health care power of attorney, living will or advance directives is asking for a heap of trouble.

Then this picture appeared on the front page of today's paper.

Photo by Gary Porter

And I immediately thought - Never underestimate the capacity of the American public to behave in a nutty fashion.

My elderly father is covered by that socialist health care plan called Medicare.  And Medicare has spent an enormous amount of money - particularly in the last year - to prolong the physical life of a fella that doesn't really have the capacity to make decisions on his own behalf any more.

So I make those decisions.  I'm the go-to guy on the POA.  Not the creepy, socialist Medicare bureaucracy.

And no amount of outrageous emails that seem to get forwarded to me are going to convince me otherwise.

Nonetheless - I think that the debate on health care reform is a healthy one.  I was beginning to get the sense that things were moving just a little too fast in one direction for my tastes.  Besides, I'd like to think that there is nothing better than a good dose of dissent.  That's what made America great.  Sometimes I think our Common Council needs to read that chapter in the book of governance.  But I digress.

So I have a word of advice for President Obama.

Hey - Prez! 

It's me, Tom.

Yeah, me. I'm over here.

Here In this big crowd. Over here in the big fat middle.  Remember us?

I have a piece of advice for you. Free advice too.

Knock it off with the nonsense.

And stop insulting us with health care reform written from the left and pushed down our throats.  Tell your friends in Congress that what they really need to do is go back to the drawing board and start with something from the middle that doesn't scare the crap out of everyone.

Or hire a good salesman.

There's probably some out there looking for a job...

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