I Love You President Obama, but please: GROW SOME BALLS!

So we're now nearly seven months into Barack Obama's presidency, and while it feels great to have an adult in the White House, his policies are starting to really scare me. Granted, the man came into office with a stinking sack of shit sitting on his desk, with the economy headed towards total extinction, a record budget deficit, two very costly wars- one of which was completely unnecessary, and America's standing in the world severely weakened by the idiocy of George W. Bush, but come on, what the fuck is going on now?! I hate to admit this, but maybe that old fuck John McCain was right when all Obama was all talk, no substance. A celebrity who just wanted TV time. I can't turn on the teevee machine and NOT see Obama on it. Yes, he's the President, everything he does is televisied. But come on! "Obama gets new dog", "Obama takes Michelle to New York and Paris", "Obama and Biden at a burger joint". Don't get me wrong, I love that he's very personable, but shit! There are very serious issues that need to be tackled.

One of which is health care, and making it more affordable for American citizens. Congress is debating a plan that will, in theory, make healthcare coverage more affordable for all citizens. However, the plan as currently constituted caters to the needs and wants of the powerful health insurance industry, NOT ordinary citizens. As it stands right now, more than 50 million Americans (yes, that's no typo, 50,000,000+ American citizens) do not have any health care coverage. Let's make this even more personal: You see the following picture?


That's me. Hi. My name is Quentin Allen Hairston, and I am one of those more than 50 million citizens without any health coverage.That's right. I'm one major illness, sickness, broken bone, whatever, from complete financial ruin. I lost my coverage when I was laid off in November. In addition to myself and the more than 50 million people without health coverage, there's another 20 million with inadequate healthcare. Put the numbers together. More than one-fifths of the American public is either completely without health insurance, or with inadequate health coverage. It's a complete travesty, in the RICHEST (well, used to be richest) country in the world. Where we have the best medical care, the best doctors, that 1/5 of your population is without adequate coverage. If you've had to buy prescription drugs recently, its stupidly expensive.

Health care desperately needs to be reformed. The decision on medical care needs to be in the hands of DOCTORS, not insurance companies looking to pad the bottom line. That is what President Obama is trying to do, by giving us the option of either going through a private insurer or going with a "public option". Now, what's a public option you ask? A public option is a taxpayer-sponsored medical insurance plan, similar to Medicare. Opponents (Republicans and the almight insurance industry) believes that a public option will drive out competition and have a bureaucrat making decisions on your health care. The American Medical Association says that, "The introduction of a new public plan threatens to restrict patient choice by driving out private insurers, which currently provide coverage for nearly 70% of Americans."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/19/2009-06-19_whos_afraid_of_a_public_option_health_care_debate_is_stuck_on_a_strawman.html#ixzz0JqlNPvVC&C

However, there are plenty of areas where private and public entities exist and compete just fine. Public schools is a great example. The Post Office is another. Recreation, travel, scientific research. Here's the biggie: SOCIAL SECURITY! What the fuck is wrong with having government-subsidized health coverage? Oh, wait, we have that already too: MEDICARE & MEDICAID! The public option will work to make coverage more affordable, and available to ALL citizens. Sure, it will cost a lot, A WHOLE FUCKING LOT, but it's not like we haven't mortgaged our future, our children's future, their children, and their children's children's future to bail out Wall Street and the greedy banks.

Republicans don't give two shits about us. We don't make money for them. The insurance industry lobbyists are stuck so far up their ass they should be charged with sodomy. Apparently, the sodomy has crossed over to the Democrats, and, sadly, I think President Obama is getting in bed with them too. Mr. President (and I parse my words very tightly when I say this), your presidency will be a complete FAILURE if you DO NOT PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM by the midterm elections! I voted for you because I though you would be the best person to bring REAL reform, REAL change to our country. In some areas, you have. You've restored dignity and decency to the White House and to America. You're working extremely hard to earn back the respect America lost during President Bush's tenure.

HOWEVER, you have ONE SHOT to get health care right! ONE! It's time you grow some balls and RAM this reform down the Republicans' throats! It's time to act like George W. Bush and say "Damned the Torpedoes!" We will pass this with or without you! 72 percent of the country support the public option. Fuck the Republicans. If they want to filibuster, let them go right ahead. I'll donate every book I own for them to read while they're obstructing the change that's so DESPERATELY NEEDED! You mean to tell me that you're going to allow 39 people to prevent the change that 72% of the country supports? GET. THE. FUCK. OUTTA. HERE!

If you don't think I can say things any better, I'll let Bill Maher be my voice.

Mr. President: I love you, but please: GROW SOME BALLS!