A departing observation on the importance of healthcare.

[humblebum]

It is very admirable and necessary that so many are rushing to provide food, shelter, protection, and emergency healthcare to the affected in Haiti. But to think that on any given night 3-4 million homeless adults, children, and families are living in shelters in the US without any access to decent healthcare. We need to rethink what we are doing.

[MineralMan]

1. It's not a zero sum game.

[closeupready]

2. I object to your choice of Haiti as a kind of counterweight to

federal spending on "general welfare". If you are going to object to anything, you should object most of all to the spending on the Pentagon and defense contractors and war spending. Spending on those items dwarfs all others by a huge margin.

[humblebum]

3. I'm not sure what you are objecting to. I don't think I demeaned the Haiti situation

in any way. Quite the contrary. I said it was very admirable and necessary to shower them with help. I am however saying that we need to keep pushing for a healthcare plan, instead of looking away from the situation at home. So, object away. And look the other way.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

4. Many of us are doing what we can here at home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7532401

to provide care and to fight for universal health care. We can walk and chew gum at the same time

[humblebum]

5. That's great.

I am just saying the facts speak for themselves. Now is definitely not the time to back away from healthcare reform.