Oh, Christ...that's just...I can't even BRAIN that kind of nonsense. Really, people? I mean, look. I'm forty years old. Grew up for most of my life in reasonable comfort at the lower end of the middle-class spectrum; in want of many extras but not in need of many necessities. But even at forty, I see terrible changes within this country. In the past twenty years, with little exception, we have become a nation of blind men with a box of band-aids - fixing problems with a tax rebate here and a welfare reform there. Like Obama said in his speech last night, it's impossible to move forward into the 21st century with a 20th century system.

I just signed up yesterday to pay $242 out of (my thinly lined) pocket to maintain my health insurance through Cobra. Even still, $1500 deductable and $500 out-of-pocket up-front on prescriptions.

*dramatically knocks wood and prays for good health*