It boils down to priorities...

We are a rich nation...We can "afford" to have a good society..

We just need to do what families all over America do EVERY payday..

Prioritize..

The pundits and politicians always say "we" can't afford this or "we" can't afford that..

IT'S OUR MONEY...WE PAY THEM TO DO OUR BIDDING..

If WE set our priorities to benefit US...the majority, and elect people who will really do what is good for the MOST people, we would have a ripsnorting economy again..and a healthier populace..

National healthcare ....yes..
"Affordable" health insuarnce....no

Drug coverage INCLUDED in national healthcare ...yes..
cheaper drug "reimportation"....no

Both of the above could easily be incorporated into medicare as it exists right now..

the losers??..the mega-insurance/hmo/drug bosses
teh winners??..the american people..

Don't believe the old canard about the doctors "leaving"... Where are they gonna go?? We are the ONLY civilized country that doesn't ALREADY HAVE national healthcare..

With the burden lifted from the employers, they could use the money they and their employees save, by actually doing some innovative things and maybe even giving real pay raises to their workers..

With the burden lifted from families who are "irrevocably tied to" jobs that provide insurance now, they would be free to flex their own entrepreneurial muscles, and might start their own businesses..

The point is THIS.. If we, as a nation say that this is priority NUMBER ONE, then we DO IT...whatever it costs.. The companies who are currently fleecing us, can just go "outsource themselves" and find a different bunch of suckers to bleed dry..

---

If we want a decent living wage, we DO IT..

---

When our MUST-HAVES are taken care of, THEN we plan for the rest of our money in the budget.. It's just as simple as that..