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But they'll do it when we aren't looking

Do you know the ultimate refrain in all of Paranoia Land?

Why it is, of course, “But they’ll do it while we aren’t looking.”

That is to imply that all appears well but somewhere, someone is surreptitiously plotting the worse case scenario which is to be thrust upon us all at a time of maximum surprise.

Such seems to be the best argument so far by those who oppose any Obama administration plan to revamp the nation’s health care system.

The major strike against health care reform from the most ardent of critics seems to be both the tired and worn threat of socialized medicine. Such threats have been lurking from the shadows for several generations now and except for the system which I am forced to use for health care – the Department of Veterans Affairs – a socialized system has yet to arrive.

In fact, what Obama says that he wants in health care reform seems anything but radical. For instance:

  • Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs

  • Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans

  • Invest in prevention and wellness

  • Improve patient safety and quality of care

  • Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans

  • Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job

  • End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions

I have come to make peace with the socialized system that exists within the VA. That doesn’t mean I like everything about it. In fact, so much can be improved that would make for a more fair and efficient system. And when I see something that I don’t like or I feel is unfair, I fight it. That is the only way one can ensure they have any kind of chance for care which is rightfully theirs.

With that said, I certainly wouldn’t want to see any type of government-controlled and operated health care for the civilian population. But I think the only way that could logically take place is as explained through that old paranoid refrain: “But they’ll do it when we aren’t looking.”

Hell, for that matter, I think socialized medicine in the U.S. Is such a stretch that “they” would have to do it while we all are comatose.

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The walls were shaking, the earth was quaking …

Okay. Regarding my last post, the felon — as far as I know — didn’t scare the wall straight. Could’ve, should’ve, might’ve, but probably didn’t. So much for writing on the quick.

But hey, I’m writing about a great story written by a friend, not about my miscues.

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I wish I had learned Latin

I really do.

That has nothing to do with this. There are certain stories I come across from certain newspapers, or areas in which these newspapers are based, that when I read them I know immediately who wrote the story. That doesn’t happen very often and marks the handiwork of individuals who are both talented reporters and writers.

This story, about a man receiving a 45-year sentence in prison for attempting to chain a hooker to a wall that the felon allegedly scared so badly that she went straight (breath), could only have been written by my friend Margaret. That is because she covers Orange County, Texas, which is a haven for the raving mad plus the fact that Margaret goes out and uncovers these kinds of things because she is a great reporter and like all great reporters has a warped sense of humor.

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Come on over

Noticing my StatCounter a bit ago I found my old Blogger site had a few more page hits today than my present site. Of course, when you have zero hits it doesn’t take many to make a few.

So, I deleted my old posts on the old site and left directions on how to get here. If you think you might be back, bookmark it or put it on your blogroll or throw it out with the budgie litter.

Whatever.

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What goes well with a fine Alaskan whine?

One would think for all the tough talk that some of this nation’s Republican leaders can blow out their wazoos that they would have skin like their mascot elephant’s.

That doesn’t seem to be the case though.

I saw the oversensitivity of George W. Bush in person and on television many a time, especially when I covered his Texas gubernatorial press conferences.

Ultra-conservative pundit and de facto GOP leader Rush Limbaugh has made his whole radio persona based on his inability to take criticism.

And it seems that since the time she was nominated as Republican vice presidential candidate up until the present, Gov. Sarah Palin has become that quintessential Alaskan whine.

At every step Palin — whose PR built her as a rough-and-tumble jock, hockey mom and wilderness outdoorswoman — has found a target for blame when her situation went awry. Primarily her target has been the media although she has found others on which she could play the victim such as the spat between her and David Letterman over a crude joke the latter made and later apologized.

Now that Palin is leaving office, she has threatned several blogs as well as MSNBC and The Washington Post with defamation lawsuits over the possibililty her resignation might have been connected to ethics investigations. I thought Conservatives were against frivilous litigation.

Even with Palin leaving office it would seem her victory in specious defamation suits would be highly unlikely even though it could prove expensive for plaintiffs, at least in the beginning.

One has to believe that some of those ultra-conservative Republicans who talk tough and feel the solution to any problem is dissolving taxes and government while unleashing nuclear bombs on our real or perceived enemies suffer from a bad case of the “Can Dish It Out But Can’t Take Its.”

Of course, I’m no political consultant or expert. I’m just a guy articulating my opinion out loud, and mostly to myself. But if I had any advice for some of the Sarah Palins in the world who feel blaming others increases their own stature, it would be this: Please don’t utter any lines urging others to buck up and take personal responsibility.  We are used to hypocrisy in government, especially by your ilk, but sometimes you can only take too much of a good thing so far.