The problem--and the solution--remain.

Got a letter from my dentist last week. What did she want? I'm all paid up, haven't missed any appointments, so why send postal mail? Here's what she wanted to tell me: Use you remaining benefits before the end of the year or lose them! Just one more example of how convoluted, how constipated, our current system is. The principles remain simple: UNIVERSAL. CRADLE-TO-GRAVE. SINGLE-PAYER. Of course, you'll hear the opponents say, "It'll never fly. It's socialism! No one wants the government to control their healthcare. We've got to cut expenses, not increase revenues or taxes! It's too hard!" Sure, it's hard! If it were easy, we would have done it already! Confront the problem and solve it! No guts, no glory! Or--and I like this variation better--"No pressure. No diamond." It's a weird situation: Everyone, in their heart of hearts, knows that the principles above are the answer. It's been the same for the past 20+ years. For the same span of time, though, since many legislators are in the pockets of big pharma and the medical establishment, politics--and, of course, lack of courage--stops them from acting in the best interests of the people who elected them. Time for a change, no?