Shut up, not down

I have not had much time to write lately.  Too much going on- work, house projects, enjoying the summer and fall with Miss Mox, etc.  And I get my best ideas at work, and driving, so I don't always get them into blog form very well even if I take notes.  Work is getting in the way of me getting stuff done...  So I have lots to say, but am not saying much.

I do watch the news, though.  Well, actually I usually read it or hear it.  And I am appalled by what is going on with the shutdown.  In brief: a bunch of ignorant assholes aren't getting their way so they have decided to stamp their feet and not play anymore.

They are acting like whiny kids.  Stupid, forgetful whiny little kids, who don't remember that the last shutdown didn't work out too well, for them and the country; and that a lot of what they hate are their ideas!  Individual mandate, death panels... Theirs.  Hey, you want to change them, do it right.  Get elected, then write and change laws.  This is a democracy.  Don't just stamp your feet.  That's not the way democracy works.  They're holding us hostage to their strident ideology.  It's pathetic and childish, and even many Republicans can see that.  If this lasts, it will damage the economy (and they will be violating the Constitution they supposedly worship; but then, hypocrisy is nothing new to them.)

Republicans had a chance to reform healthcare, and they didn't.  They made Medicare more expensive for seniors, and taxpayers as a whole.  This time, they could try to fix ACA.  There's stuff they don't like in it (even if a lot of that stuff is their own ideas.)  Hey, there's stuff I don't like.  Let's tweak it.  But they're having none of that.  Partly this is because they are having a civil war.  I hope they burn themselves out, or maybe split into two parties, and we get a more decent, intelligent Republican party.  I'm not going to get my hopes up.

I'm really not clear on what they're so upset about, anyway.  Most of the objections to ACA I hear are based on distortions and delusions.  It's not socialism or socialized medicine.  It's not a lot of things Reps say it is (but then they like to lie anyway.) It's essentially changes in regulations.  I'm tired of hearing the Chicken Little "sky is falling" bullshit- lies about doctors, insurance, job-killing, etc.  Hey, this is a big change, but not as big as it could or should be.  Maybe it will help overall; it is already helping in some ways.  I think it will take a couple of years for things to sort out.  Costs will go up some, but they have been going up anyway (hence the need for healthcare reform, of course...)  Some people will pay more, some less.  For most people it won't make much difference, and for some it will be a very good thing.  Let's let it work, drop things that don't work, add things that we see the need for, and actually try to have a working country, moving forward and getting better.

Well.  Back to work.  Actually, back to house projects, errands, and then work, and starting all over again tomorrow.  I'm not complaining- I like staying busy, and I get to hang out with the most amazing woman in the world, so life is good even when it's hectic.  Enjoy the fall, folks!