What the Health?

Death threats toward Members of Congress? Are you frikkin' KIDDING me? What is the DEAL here?

In the past decade, Congress has voted to go start two wars, including one with a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. I didn't hear about Members of Congress receiving death threats over voting for those. But heaven forbid that we pass a law to try to give citizens healthcare--I guess THAT'S worth throwing bricks through windows.

Why is requiring citizens to have health insurance different from requiring car owners to have auto insurance? Why are so many people getting all worked up over this? I've lived in several countries which give their citizens government-funded medical care. Most people in these places consider healthcare on the same level as police and firefighting--basic protections for the well-being of the people.

If you don't feel safe enough with police protection, hire yourself a private bodyguard. But don't try to shut down the town police station and leave the rest of us unprotected. I'm thrilled that the healthcare law passed; I just wish we'd gone with a single-payer option, like most of the developed world.

After all, it's not like I get health benefits from writing novels.