The Great Healthcare Debate and other things

Today I was asked if I was a conservative or a liberal. Now, for a former conservative talk radio host this kind of stung. I mean, I have never considered myself a liberal and Lord knows I have trashed talked the liberal agenda enough in my life to hold my own seat in congress but I don't think I'm either. I can with absolute certainty tell you I'm NOT a Progressive. That is with a capitol P. I'm progressive yes, but the uber liberals, as I like to call them, are now calling themselves Progressives. (I mean no offense to my one friend who is without a doubt a Progressive, but also incredibly wonderful so I forgive her.)

If I was still a talker on the ole radio today I would have definitely drawn the ire of my conservative friends. I watched and listened to the President last night. I kept my mind open but my ears keen. I did not hear one horrible thing in his healthcare plan. Now, am I naive enough to believe he is going to be able to solve this problem we call the healthcare crisis without it costing me? NO. I unfortunately know first hand how horrific it can be when someone has no healthcare. Trust me when I tell you we have come a long way from the early 1990's when my own mother died due to a lack of health insurance but I will not bore you with the details of a story told all too often.

I applaud the current administration for having the balls to tackle this issue out of the gate. I'm not convinced this bill is the solution but let me tell you what I did hear that I did like. It sounds like someone is finally going to try to take on big insurance companies, this goes into the win column. Tort reform, yes, definitely the win column. Now, public option? What exactly does this mean. The way I understood it explained last night was this would be a not for profit option for the poor and uninsured. I like this idea on the surface. The problem with it is the slippery slope toward socialized medicine it can create. That goes into the "neutral" column.

Something that really sticks in my craw is the heckling of the President. Like him? Hate him? I don't care but no one who is an American, particularly an American legislator should ever be so sophomoric as to heckle a sitting American president. This makes me angry.

When I really consider some of the main issues that cause a fault line in this country I realize I may have become more liberal than conservative.

Gay Marriage: I don't care! How is this even a political issue? What does this have to do with government? If two people love each other and want to get married I don't care and frankly all you bible thumpers, I don't think God cares either. Happiness, Family and Love are what you make them.

Gun Rights: Leave those who want to keep and bear arms the heck alone! Taking away guns or making stronger firearms laws only puts more power in the hands of the criminals. Much like locks keep honest people honest, the same could be said for gun laws.

Abortion: Oh, don't even get me started and I won't take this one on out of respect for my more conservative folks. My beliefs on this issue are spiritually based and God fearing but suffice it to say, what goes on between a woman and HER GOD, is her business.

Taxes: Keep those darn taxes low. The more money that is in the hands of the American people the better. If they really want to fix the economy, let the spend thrift American people keep more of their paycheck. Trust me when I say, they will spend and the economy (which is now a credit based consumer economy) will improve.

Bailouts: Enough already!

The Wars: As an average American citizen I do not have enough information to make a reasonable judgement on this issue. I hate the war, but understand the necessity at this point.

I can tell you this, I don't think the government should own car companies. I believe the free enterprise system can and will eventually fix the economy and I think my children should learn to be contributing members of their society, not leaches looking for a handout. I don't think I am owed a damn thing from anyone. My mistakes are mine to own so I can also own my victories. I believe in a society where women are held in the same esteem as men, but it is never forgotten that we are women. I like the door held for me and spiders killed for me but I better make the same pay for the same job! I like Obama but I think he is a dangerous President because of the people he has around him. I watch FOX news and I like it, although I don't always agree with the pundits. I strongly believe Nancy Pelosi is a dangerous woman and a walking advertisement of why you NEVER get botox.

At the end of the day I am a Patriot and I love my country. We will all survive these hard times and if we are smart we will learn and grow as individuals.