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Barzilla, what are your thoughts about universal health care?

Whether a government mandated system of universal health care should be implemented in the United States remains a hotly debated political topic.

I think it's a damn shame universal health care doesn't exist in the United States, because there are so many American citizens who simply can't afford to get the proper medical attention they need.

In 2007, approximately 68 million adults in this country, or 35 percent of individuals ages 19 to 64, had either no insurance, sporadic coverage, or poor insurance coverage that exposed them to high health care costs.

Here's a sad fact guys ...

Americans have a lower average life expectancy than those in other industrialized nations with universal health care, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden.

The United States is too busy spending billions of dollars helping people in other countries, having congress hearings over worthless topics, but when will the middle class and poor people in this country start to matter again?

It seems like everything in today's society is selfishly built towards becoming a wealthy Republican and Christian, but if you're not any of those, you're almost left out in the dark these days ...

The way this country is currently running, it seems like the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

You either have the faith to improve your own life or you don't. But God forbid the U.S. Government isn't going to go out of there way to help you, unless you're disabled, elderly or a retired member of the U.S. military.

At the end of the day, don't we all get born and don't we all die one time?

So that means we have only one chance to get things right ...

I guess it doesn't matter when you try to simplify things, but I have a huge problem with some of the weasels currently in Washington D.C. right now. Most of them don't give a damn about you or me or that Joe Somebody in a wheelchair trying to cross the road, but they sure do care when it's more money going into their greedy pockets.

I'll do a pros and cons of Universal Health Care later on ...

Barzilla, I like a lot of the ideas Hillary Clinton has been talking about -- especially her views on universal health care. She believes strongly in health care for everybody, but also her plans to end the intense situation in Iraq and pull the remaining troops out within a two-month time frame. So much money and lives have been lost, I can't even comprehend what is really going on over there.

Just recently, I got to meet and hear stories from a Marine who was stationed in Camp Fallujah, Iraq for three years and deep down he was begging to come home to his family the entire time he was there ( he told me some really graphic stories I don't wish to share here ), and he is finally home, unfortunately, he's now paralyzed and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life after an enemy grenade ripped through most of his body parts below his waist. It's a shame these young men and women get to come home, but at a costly price.

What's strange is I didn't find him, he found me. He's a big Houston fan and came across some of my posts on this forum. He told me while stationed in Iraq, he would read these forums back in 2005 and he enjoyed some of my posts about the Texans and Rockets. He knew I was having a hard time and he befriended me recently and told me everything will be okay, but it all starts with changing your perception on things.

"Don't give up, Ryan. Because I'm not about to give up myself and I may be in more pain than you right now," he told me in his first email to me.

Ironically, Hillary Clinton grew up in a strong Republican household, but throughout her late teenage years, she started to develop her own Democratic beliefs.

In essense, she has the best of both worlds in that regard.

During a speech in Ohio tonight ( after she won the Ohio primary ), I heard Hillary Clinton say something along the lines, "If you believe in hard work, and if you believe in getting up after you've fallen down, then this victory is for you."

I'm not sure if she's just like the rest of them, telling people what they want to her just to get their vote, but it really seems like she has some of the best ideas out there.

I'm glad to see her making a charge at Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race.

If for any reason Barack Obama wins the Democratic Nomination, I'll probably support and vote for him in the presedential race against John McCain.

My vote has always gone to Hillary Clinton though, and will continue that way as long as she keeps fighting the good fight.

I think John McCain is a great man and he truly cares about people, but I just don't agree with a lot of his views.

I like Hillary Clinton a lot, and I also have a lot of respect for Barack Obama.

I have many Republican friends who dislike my preference in Clinton, but they also respect the fact I have my own opinions and I can vote for who I want.

At the end of the day, isn't that the American way? The freedom to do as you please.

I've never been into politics that much, but as I grow older I'm starting to see what all the fuss is about. Some people have told me if I could ever develop the same passion for politics that I have toward sports, I may become the Mayor of Houston one day.

I know people can accomplish anything they put their mind to, but to say I can become the Mayor of Houston one day is like saying a one-legged turtle can win a race.

I believe, trust me when I say I believe, but some things are simply impossible.

There's a better chance of me dating a supermodel than becoming the Mayor of Houston one day.

RdKapp, how do you feel about the country's economy in relation to the global economy, and do you consider air pollution a real threat for the future of Houston, Texas and the surrounding areas?

We're already one of the worst places to breathe air, but do you see the problem getting worse before it gets better?

What are some ideas and solutions you think can help in regards to air pollution? I would hate to see future generations struggling to properly breathe in this great city.

I've been doing some research, and it's my understanding that Houston, Texas is one of the largest and most problematic areas when it comes to the number of "respiratory diseases being reported," and of course I can relate to these issues myself.

It doesn't help that Houston, Texas is also in the running for the number one fattest city in the United States every single year, but how much of that is due to the bad air we're breathing?

Also, are you worried about the crime rates in any particular area of the city?

barzilla wrote:

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Chris,

Good points all, but I wouldn't characterize any situation concerning a budget as can't. The federal budget is a lot like any budget. Sometimes I look at what other people spend money on and scratch my head. Yet, I have my own hobbies as well that others would scoff at. Similarly, universal health care, welfare, medicaid, and social securities are all expensive priorities, but priorities that can be met if the government chooses to.

Barzilla, I agree.

Astrogirl, I didn't know you smoke... You really need to quit.

My stepfather is a heavy smoker and while he always smokes in the garage area and outside the house, I tend to walk by that area quite a bit. There's no doubt I've being exposed to a dangerous amount of secondhand smoke that is contributing to my poor health.

Some of the buildup of fluids in my right ear that eventually triggered my declining health back in mid September may have been caused by secondhand smoke. It eventually led to a partial hearing loss in my right ear, which I've been slowly gaining back.

As far as the current health care system in this country goes, I'm not going to complain on a somewhat selfish and individual level. The majority of my medications, doctor visits and surgeries are all paid for by my health insurance and I'm very thankful to be receiving the proper health care I need.

However, I do care about the millions of people who are not as fortunate as me. I don't even want to imagine what several less fortunate families in this country go through, because it makes me want to cry in sadness.

I want our next commander-in-chief to be somebody who is as passionate as me when it comes to the desire of seeing all Americans ( the middle class and poor in particular ) having the chance to live a quality life and getting the right type of health care they deserve.

All of these issues are complex in nature ( most politicians talk about them, but they rarely produce enough satisfactory results when it comes to effectively solving most of these problems ), and I realize most people in this country only care about their own selfish needs and not so much about others, but I'm not that type of person. I could care less about my own wealth or my own agenda.

I'd really like to see everybody having the chance to live a great life and receiving the proper health care they deserve, and it shouldn't matter if they're rich, middle class or living-on-the-street-corner poor.

On a side note, I have to disagree with you about Hillary Clinton's plans for universal health care. I'd be able to qualify for it, simply because of my various diseases and disability. I wouldn't be left out like you're implying. I'm not currently on social security disabled right now just because I'm overweight.

In a perfect world, I'd be healthy enough to have joined the U.S. Army. I have no wife or kids like many of the young men in uniform who are dying, and unlike them, I wouldn't have a heck of a lot to lose...

Every time I hear or read about another young American soldier dying and leaving behind a wife or kid at home, tears pour down my face. I often pray to God why them and not me?

I sometimes wish this isn't the only life we get to live as humans. I want to believe in some type of reincarnation, because I want the opportunity to experience a lot of things I'm not getting the chance to experience right now.