This Boyfriend May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Memo to my fellow Americans, with a special shout-out to my sister single women: settling for health insurance coverage as it exists now would be like settling for a bad boyfriend. And we deserve better. Think about it. In both cases, we "settle"" because we're afraid there's nothing else out there. We're afraid that we don't have a choice. Better to have some kind of "coverage," than nothing, right?

Actually, no. Here's what happens: they know they're in the power position in the relationship. So they don't communicate. They don't have to. They have other priorities. When you want to talk, you can't get them on the phone. You leave message after message. If they call you back at all, there's sure to be an argument. You never know where you stand with them. Sometimes they pay, sometimes they don't. And then they dump you. You end up feeling like it's your fault. And you're left to pick up the pieces. (Note to readers: feel free to add your own bad boyfriend/health insurance comparisons.)

Enough of this crap. We need some options here. Options are a good thing. Options offer you choices. Options give you the ability to make informed decisions, instead of decisions made out of fear. We've been scared into thinking that all the "good" men are gay, married, or incarcerated. And some of us have been scared into thinking that a public health insurance option means some sort of evil government "takeover," with forced abortions, sex change operations, and the plug pulled on all of the elderly and Sarah Palin's son with Down's Syndrome. All brought to you by that scary half-black alien-who-really-isn't-the-President. (Note to readers: feel free to add any other weirdo notions you've heard about.)

Hysteria and lies aside, we deserve better. On both fronts.

Comments

[Jack Zerbe]

There's something in the contemporary American psyche that has virtually eliminated "dating," and replaced it with quick, and sometimes ill-considered, committed relationships. How many folks do you know that actually "date around" in the true sense of those words? I dislike "players," but also think folks should take more time before making commitments. That said, I'm pleased we have slowed down the pace of legislation. We MUST have reform, absolutely MUST, but let's take enough time to know what we will be getting.

[h0tr0d]

Not too much misandry here.

[audadvnc]

Talk about bad boyfriends! My gal & I went out last night to a bar/restaurant frequented by younger adults. Across the isle from us, at the bar, was a very attractive looking young woman with her hot stud dude - and one or two of his pals. He completely ignored her as long as his pals stuck around, and she was bored stupid by the time he turned his attention back to her. Of course he loved her up for minute, and she came partway back - but then he got on his phone and blew her off again!

I wanted to go up to him and say "hey, d!ckhead, you're not using this beauty, can she come sit with us?"

Of course, she should have walked away. But maybe she thought he was good enough. Just like health care...

[Theresa E Berger]

To continue with the boyfriend / health care analogy... The current health care system is like the boyfriend your friends and family hate. Neither one works. Unfortunately, you only listen to those people who reinforce the notion of how lucky you are to have it/him.

[jennyleelee]

Well said, Nancy. We shouldn't have to settle!