What's worse?

You know as I follow the healthcare debate, I haven't heard very much about undocumented (illegal) immigrants and their place in healthcare reform. We know that for the most part, there are about 47 million uninsured Americans. We also know that most uninsured Americans use the emergency room for non emergency care, which is the most expensive form of healthcare. What happens when these people are now covered and using the normal channels to receive healthcare? It saves money, that is an accepted fact.

Interestingly, one thing that I have not heard anything about, and I have followed this closely, is the undocumented person. A quick search online will reveal that there are about 10-20 million illegal immigrants living in the US. Some numbers said more, some said less, but the accepted average seemed to b 10-20 million. Where do these people fall in the healthcare debate?

The answer is, they will not be covered. This posed a very interesting question; why not? If undocumented persons, for the most part, are going to be using emergency rooms in a similar manner as the currently uninsured; is it a good thing to keep them out? I understand that no politician wants to look as if they are catering to this portion of the population; but at what cost?

For the sake of using round numbers, let's say that healthcare reform is going to cost $1,000 per person, per year. We'll take a median number between 10-20 million, let's say 15 million. So there could be 15,000,000 people still taking advantage of our healthcare system in its most expensive form; the emergency room - because they may have few other options. That is an incredible cost to bear, wouldn't it make sense to include these persons?

Why wouldn't we?

Many people would say that undocumented (illegal) persons do not deserve to benefit from the United States healthcare system; including when it is reformed.

The reality is that they already do benefit from our current system. The citizens, and undocumented persons, are abusing the emergency room are causing healthcare prices to go up. People that have health insurance are the ones that have to pay the price. Insured persons like yourself pay for their unnecessary and expensive emergency room visits by paying higher healthcare premiums.

Undocumented persons that are not a part of the reform would mean that undocumented persons are getting the same care you or I have to pay for; but would get it for free. The answer? Charge them just the same; and not give up the 15,000,000,000 per year in healthcare premiums. (15,000,000 people x $1,000 per person)

Why should undocumented persons receive a better deal than me or you. To put it more personally, why should this population receive better care than my daughter; or your child(ren)?

What do you think? Does this change your view on whether they should or should not be a part of the discussion? Does this change your view on immigration in America? It is certainly a lot to consider. To cover, or not to cover; what's worse?

My long goodbye

Well, today Grace hit the road with her mom back to Washington. Such a smart, loving, and beautiful child. What a lucky father I am. I spent much of last night crying over the fact that I was going to be missing out on so much of Grace's life during this next year, and rightfully so.

There is few things in the world that rival seeing genuine happiness on your child's face. When I see Grace climb up to the top of something that neither of us were sure she could reach, or when she figures out a problem with her "homework" all on her own; those are the truly satisfying moments in my life. Looking at her eyes light up and the smile that comes across her face as she discovers something little or big about the world that she didn't know before beats the hell out of all of the other shit that we find time to worry or complain about.

Sometimes it is also the things that she says that can warm and break your heart at the same time. Last night she was looking at us a little overwhelmed as to why we were crying. She thought that maybe it was time for her to go, because "we had so much trouble with her". She was referring to the hard(ish) time we had recently had with her behavior, which I think may had been associated with her upcoming departure. This little 5 year old girl actually thought that her behavior was the cause of this coming change. No matter what you tell a child, they can only comprehend the comprehensible. I couldn't even comprehend it all for my own sake.

The point that I wanted her to take from this, was that her daddy does cry too; and that it was normal. I wanted her to see just how much we loved her, and that even though something was happening that we didn't want; we still wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to know that I was crying because I knew I was losing something; and that something was her. I needed her to associate that moment to all of the times I have told her I loved her; and that it really was the truth each time I said it.

I expect that she may only make this connection subconsciously, but that's OK with me. If she knows, she knows. I woke up this morning (Monday) with a heavy heart. I knew this was the last time we'd wake up together for a long time. I knew this was the last time we'd have what we had at that moment; for months. I just tried to appreciate that I was there with her. She is singularly and simultaneously my source of pride and purpose in the world. I only wanted to remember everything about her as she was at that moment, and not worry about what is to come for either of us.

Her first word, her first step, her first of just about everything; I've been there for. That time is seemingly over. Her first day of school. Her first time reading. Her first time writing. The changes she will experience as a kindergartner; and so much more will escape my watching eye. I will never get to participate in those memories. I won't even get to have them. This is my reality. What is life other than the memories that we have, and the experiences yet to come? It is equally a question of "why me?" as it is a question of "why her?". She deserves everything.

For me, saying goodbye started last night, and ends with the realization that tonight there is no life in her room, and no little body in our bed. Dinner time will be a little lonelier with that empty space at the dinner table. Everything changes from here on out. Goodbye my baby, I'll see you when you get home....

First word: Health. Second word: do you Care?

Very few people know that I am actually very interested in politics and where our nation is headed. There are so many issues to be worried about; education, Iraq and Afghanistan, civil liberties, global pandemic, global warming and economic disasters are just to name a few. I think the most important of these, other than the two wars and the economy, is the push for health care reform.

What I find to be so frustrating is that so many people wanted this. Healthcare reform was a huge part of President Obama's campaign and he was elected overwhelmingly by the American people; why is this such a problem now?

The single payer system, which is the same healthcare system that is run in England, France and Canada (and others), is the most cost effective way. The bureaucratic overhead is going to be less than the corporate 25%-35% profits that private insurance companies work into the current costs of healthcare. (percentages provided by Political Science professor)

The reform of healthcare would benefit all businesses, small and large, because it would lessen the burden that employers would have in providing (or helping to provide) their employees with healthcare. This would easily inject some life into the economy.

Why is it that America spends the most on healthcare each year; and is ranked 35th (or close to it) in the world? Why are there 47 million uninsured people in America? Why is there a system in place that allows companies to deny care to people with pre existing conditions? Why is healthcare not a basic human right? Who is it exactly that feels this way; the have's or the have nots?

Some arguments to healthcare reform include: "America has the best healthcare in the world." Is that so? Then why do most people want to change it? Looking at the questions I posed above, would those be characteristics of the best healthcare system in the world?

Conservatives were in the majority for about 6 years, with a two term Republican president, and majorities in the House and Senate; yet they did nothing during Bush's 8 years. Just as they have been since Obama has taken office, they continue to be the party of no.

Do you think that with about 370 electoral college votes, the vast majority of Americans want healthcare reform? Without even blinking an eye, the answer is easily yes. With the Democratic party being voted into the majority in Congress; don't you think that the American people are voting for the change that they want to see? Can the Democrats actually screw this up with a 60 seat majority in the Senate and a huge lead in the House?

Who doesn't want this change? Insurance companies. Insurance companies are pouring money into the fight against reform, and in some ways are winning. No union, organization, institution or corporation that I know of is against healthcare reform. Why is that? Because everyone wants it. Who is against it? The insurance companies, because like always, it comes down to money.

If the Democratic party has to go it alone to get this done, then so be it. I can only imagine the reason this is being done with such urgency, is because President Obama will never have as much political "credit" as he has now. So get it done now, because that seems to be the only way it will ever be done; and it's the right thing to do.

If America is the greatest country in the world, then it's about time we start acting like it. There are plenty of things to fight over: immigration, abortion, taxes and so on...this should not be one of them.

The next chapter

If my life were a book, it would be a helluva book. I mean this thing would sell, and then be made into a movie starring either Vince Vaughn or Jeremy Piven - because that's how I roll.

The latest chapter still to be written, is about my first day back to school as a full time student. It really snuck up on me, I knew my first day was the 17th, but I had no clue that tomorrow was the 17th until about 30 minutes ago. Oh me.

So I will charge into my Math, English, Political Science and History classes with a full head of steam. Tomorrow is the first official step to the rest of my life; and I plan to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead of me.

Wish me luck, shoot; I ain't too cool for school. Well, I am, but you know what I mean. ;)

They only get harder

Saying goodbye is hard. Saying goodbye to my daughter has always been tough. It was easier when she was younger, because she couldn't say much so it wasn't that bad. As she got a little older she started to realize that she was leaving mom or dad, and would cry for the other parent. That was rough.

It was also hard because I was afraid if I didn't see her she would forget who I was. It sounds crazy but when you're dealing with this for the first time it is scary, and hard. Then there is the task of reintroducing her back to our way of life and my rules and expectations. One thing you never stop being afraid of is will she take away all of the lessons in life and guidance that I want to pass on to her?

My biggest regret is the life that she has had to live, and will have to live. She will be exposed to Mom vs. Dad for most of her entire life; be it from the outside or her own internal conflicts. No child should have to travel state lines to see her parents. No child should cry because she misses one parent or the other. No child should have to deal with the complexities of divorcee life that Gracie has been exposed to. Especially my child.

So as I fret over all of the struggles I may not be able to foresee and protect her from, I do my best to tell Gracie that I love her all of the time. I catch myself trying to teach her things about life that a 5 year old probably can't comprehend because I'm afraid that she won't learn them if she doesn't learn them from me.

The truth is that there is nothing I can do, short of Gracie at some point choosing to live with her daddy. I can't control her mother or anyone else in her family. I can't control what they choose to teach her, or what they choose not to teach her. I can barely control her, and she's 5 years old!

If I focus on controlling this, I'll never be at peace. I understand that, but it is so hard to act on this realization. I'll continue to do the only thing I can; show her that I love her every day. I will, because I do. So here I am, 10 days away from yet again saying goodbye.

That's the thing about these goodbyes, they only get harder.

Torn between two loves!!

Ever been torn between two loves that you cared for deeply? That's what I'm going through right now. Political Science v. History are the participants in the battle for my heart. I'm an avid watcher of the History channel and C-SPAN (as well as other news channels); how can I choose?

I first had considered the possibility of double majoring, but I was informed by a very kind advisor at Cal (thanks Efrat) that it was possible, but quite the undertaking. My current interests seem to align me with PoliSci and I am currently leaning that way. Luckily for me the prerequisites on transferring to Cal are the exact same as a History major; so I'm able to take some time on this decision while working my way simultaneously towards both majors.

My overall goal is to work at the community college level. Being an academic advisor is one of the final goals, as well as potentially teaching PoliSci and/or History.

Stay tuned...

New Challenges

As of last week I volunteered to be the President and co-founder of the Contra Costa College Veteran's Club. I have a lot to learn in putting together and sustaining an organization like this, which is a challenge I look forward to. We'll see how it goes!