Here are some thoughts from a guy who has a complete understanding of the national health issue which so many people think is complex.
Sure it’s something like a gazillion pages long and contains clauses and addendums that would take the mind of an Einstein to comprehend. Sure the language is so convoluted with legalese that it could confound Clarence Darrow.
However, here is the complete understanding that I have of the bill: It has to pass now. It’s probably now or never.
How can the greatest country on earth have 30 million people who don’t have insurance? How can so many other countries take better care of their citizens than we?
We’re a country of people who will rally around a country like Haiti in time of disaster, yet we have people who will die of hunger or illness right here in the United States.
Here’s what I understand about the health care issue: It’s a subject that the government has considered for about 100 years. Teddy Roosevelt first brought up the idea about a century ago.
Many presidents since have tried to deliver a health care package and every time politics came into play. Now the Republicans are trying to derail the issue, as lobbyists from health care and insurance groups try to drive the votes.
Yes, there are problems with any bill. The big issue for many people is the amount of money that will be spent for abortions. Once again religion is a sticking point for people despite the so-called “separation of church and state.”
What I understand best is that we need to pass it now. Despite the problems that Democrats and Republicans may have, we can always tweak the law at a later time. Issues can be debated and altered in future years.
But as Obama says: “If not now, when?”
If not now, maybe never. Or maybe another 100 years.
What I do like is that our president is finally taking charge. When Teddy Roosevelt brought up national health care, his motto was: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Obama not only carries a big stick, he’s speaking loudly and he’s speaking clearly.
He’s backing the Republicans into a corner and pretty much threatening Democrats who may be wavering on backing the presidency and the party on health care.
It’s time to push a law through. Let’s worry about the changes later.
If not now, when?
• Last week I wrote about the upcoming open call for the Senior Follies, but I left out the date. The signups for the follies are from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Shenango Valley Senior Center, North Buhl Farm Drive, Hermitage.
The theme is “The Best of Ed Sullivan” and acts, dances or songs should be related to performances that were on that show. The follies, for people 50 and older, are a lot of fun. There is plenty of room in the chorus for singers also. See you there.
The Herald’s Lynn Saternow writes this column each Saturday for the Opinion page. He can be reached at lsaternow@sharonherald.com
Opinion
Health care reform can’t wait another 100 years
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Juicy tips will be far fewer without ‘Scoop’ on the phone
I enjoyed calling him Scoop. I was the newspaper guy, but for more years than I can remember, Gary Douglas was at the other end of phone calls on a regular basis.
“Did you hear about this? Did you hear about that? Did you hear about so-and-so? Better check this out. I’ll bet you haven’t heard about this.”
That usually was the flow of the conversation. Most of the time he was right. Some of the tips turned into stories that were fit to print, and others not so much.
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Here are some thoughts from a guy who doesn’t put a whole lot of stock in rascally rodents that make weather forecasts.
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Adage tells us that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It really applies to the Likovich family of Hermitage, specifically Ed the father and teacher and Ed the son and student.
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A sad end to life: History will determine JoePa’s legacy
I had the privilege, yes privilege and honor, of meeting Joe Paterno several times in my life, both as a student at Penn State and in my role as editor of The Herald. It was with a heavy heart when I learned that he was near death during the Mercer County Hall of Fame’s annual dinner at the Park Inn by Radisson Saturday, and that he had died Sunday.
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OUR VIEW: Dearth of candidate interest defies worth of legislative races
In case you hadn’t noticed, this is an election year. Actually every year is, but this is one of the big ones. Sure, there’s some sort of presidential race going on, but that’s just a sideshow to where the real action in this year’s election is – or at least should be.
Voters across the country will be electing every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and here in Mercer County voters will help decide who represents three state House districts. -
Hall of Fame weekend stirs memories of ‘good old days’
Is there anything better than reminiscing about the “good old days”? That’s why I love the Mercer County Hall of Fame’s annual induction weekend.
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We couldn’t fool anyone - the neighborhood always snitched
An old African proverb tells us that it takes a village to raise a child. At least two books drawing lessons from the proverb have been written, including the most famous in 1996 by Hilary Clinton, “It Takes A Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.”
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