Don’t do it

Hey men, check out these musically-enhanced tips and avoid some common pitfalls in marriage.  (Thanks, Steve!)

A note to Congress…

Thought I’d jot a little note to members of Congress (and I actually sent it) on the eve of yet another round of debate on health care reform.  This is one of those things I needed to write in order to get it off my chest so I don’t get all fired up with my family and friends.

It is a national disgrace to have more than 45 million Americans with no health insurance, especially when Members of Congress enjoy premium coverage paid for by taxpayers.

The insurance industry will continue to push for delays in reforming health care even though premiums rose over four times as fast as wages between 2000 and 2006, and industry profits of the nation’s largest insurers rose 170.2 percent to $12.6 billion between 2003 and 2007. Facts like these turn my stomach – and they should turn yours as well.

While insurance conglomerates (another $30 billion for AIG??), auto manufacturers, and banks whine and grovel for bigger bailouts, millions of us have been pushed out of jobs and out of our homes, and robbed of financial security.

It’s time for Congress to 1) tell the insurance lobby to sit down and shut up, and 2) get on with the business of crafting policies that put the needs of ordinary Americans before the interests of corporate boardrooms.  There’s plenty of anger and frustration simmering out here in the public.  Hopefully we’ll see some serious attention given to this and other matters before it boils over into a 21st century Boston Tea Party.