Sunday reflections

This has been a tough time, it seems of late. Streak is doing better, mind you, and we are grateful for that and for the fact that we are largely doing ok ourselves. I am going in for an MRI here in a few hours to see what is wrong with my right shoulder, but that is in the minor annoyance category. Yeah, I can't play golf or tennis right now, but that pales in comparison to what so many around us face.

Friends around us have struggled mightily of late. Another friend is in the hospital after a routine endoscopy nicked her intestine. She is stable, but quite sick, and we are miles away and unable to help in any way. It is at this time that I understand the way many people talk about prayer. It gives some people a way to do something in a situation where they can do little else. I don't quite see prayer that way, but I have been thinking about our friend and her family all weekend. If God does stuff in these situations, I trust that he (or she) is aware of the situation and how much we care about our friend and her family. They have had more than their share of health issues of late.

This morning started out rough. Some very weird dreams, a little anxiety about the MRI, and then I read this morning a reminder that Republicans want to repeal healthcare and further cut taxes. I have two fears about our healthcare situation. The first is that Republicans will end up repealing or gutting the meager advancements we have made, because of their ignorance (largely). I understand some are legitimately concerned about the process and even the role of government, but I am rather stunned that extending healthcare to others or removing lifetime bans or pre-existing conditions makes me a fascist. Or a socialist. Or a Kenyan--fuck, I can't even keep it straight.

Meanwhile, I am reminded of the issue from the last post, that Republicans would rather cut programs for the needy and working poor than raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. That is so messed up I can't even wrap my head around such insanity. That so many of them identify as Christians baffles me even more. It is as if they truly believe--despite the mounting evidence--that private charities can take care of all the needs of the poor. Or that they believe that the poor, as I have been told by a few, must be really lazy or stupid if "they can't make it given all the breaks we give them." Seriously.

My second fear is that our healthcare reforms have been so watered down that it will not change the mounting healthcare bills that so many of my friends face. We have so demonized government that we are incapable of coming together as a people for anything other than bombing another nation. That is sad beyond belief.

Anyway. I will hope that things get better for my friends. And I wish I could do something.