Mary Ratcliff
Why Health Care Reform Now
Today, many of us know someone who has no health insurance and we
worry about what would happen if they got seriously sick. Early last
year a friend was diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately he had an
excellent outcome with treatment. But two months later, he lost his job
and—after he and his wife struggled to keep up with the insurance
payments for eight months while he searched for a new job—they finally
stopped paying for insurance. The choice came down to keeping a roof
over their heads or paying their COBRA bill. They know they are now
playing the lottery with his health. And God forbid his wife or son
gets sick. This is the dilemma too many of our families, our friends
and our neighbors are facing right now.
Reforming the health-care insurance market is not only a primary
goal of President Barack Obama, but is also a major requirement for the
economic health of the United States because it will prevent the
bankruptcy of our country and its citizens.
Global Warming: Be Part of the Solution
Despite the ongoing campaign to discredit the science of global warming, a recent TIME/ ABC News/ Stanford University poll reports some encouraging, if surprising, news about American attitudes toward the problem. According to the survey, 85% of Americans now believe that global warming is underway and 80% believe that human activity is contributing to the problem — although two-thirds still think, incorrectly, that there is significant scientific disagreement on the issue (this is one baneful result of the Right's disinformation campaign).
