Our past week in two cartoons. Pretty much sums up what went on in the USA

[Mira]

Time for Rejoicing during a national nervous breakdown.

I'd like to think we need to come together. Right now.
But when I think of the disparity, I sink into personal despair over the chasms that are seemingly too wide to bridge.
There is not enough hope in my heart this morning.

[ixion]

1. Or not...

[coti]

3. That's more accurate. nt

[Mira]

4. I bet even you know there is more to it than that, but if you don't know, hang around

and start reading and listening.

I wanted single payer. That's what's needed and that's what's fair, deserved and overdue.

Since I could not get it, and the deadly status quo was my option to the bill they passed, I am absolutely praising them for the start they made.

Day before yesterday I heard President Obama say that he realizes he did not give us what most of the people wanted, but he will continue to press for more.
In a hundred plus years of trying, auspicious or not, it's a start. And at least we did not lose the attempt at it, and fall back into a decade of more desperation by the people.

It's like failing at quitting smoking.
When you fail the demoralization of it makes you stop to even THINK about trying again. All the time you are killing yourself slowly.

[coti]

5. I recognize that there are valid arguments in favor of passing this reform,

the most convincing one being that, since Obama had committed to it, not passing it would have destroyed our Democratic President and likely stalled progress on any and all issues for the next three years. Reading what he wrote about his changed stance, that seemed to be the one that swayed Kucinich, too.

However, making the deals that led to this was still a mistake on Obama's part, and it doesn't seem right that he ended up holding himself and all progress hostage to get this bill passed. I do still believe that, before this started, we would have been better off with no reform than this reform. It doesn't change the fact that the private insurance mandate is likely unconstitutional, either.

[coti]

2. Not quite sure how being forced to buy insurance from private

insurance companies translates to "liberty"...