First Post

Do you like my Blog name?
Try to figure out what it means, what it's derived from, and how the letters were anglicized a bit.

You may call me Sinda or S.G. or just blogger...

This blog will provide data-driven arguments for policy positions, among other topics of interest.

For example, last year a colleague asked me "don't you want universal healthcare?", I didn't know how to respond. That's because his question is a loaded question. If you don't want everyone to have health care, you would be a bad person, so you have to answer yes. But the problem with his question is how one defines "universal healthcare".

dictionary.com defines "universal" as "affecting or involving all".

Now here comes the good part. While universal healthcare may mean a central-government-run single-payer system to him, to me, it's what we already have in the U.S. Let me be more specific: in this country ANYONE can call their local insurance agent and sign up for a health insurance policy. Or you can visit http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ to find a policy. I found one for myself for $155 per month based on my gender, age, and zipcode only. So I could lease a little car for $155 per month, or I could buy this health insurance policy. I could save 10% of my income over my lifetime and be self-insured. I could visit a Walgreens "Take Care" walk in clinic for an exam for $59 to $74 per visit. Or I could wait until I'm really sick and go to the emergency room as an indigent. It's really cool to be an American where we have the economic freedom to make these choices.

So next time a colleague from work puts the pressure on you, "don't you think Universal Healthcare is a good goal?", tell him "we already have universal healthcare and we're fortunate to be free people where we can decide whether to buy health insurance or lease a new car, whether to visit the doctor or buy a flat screen TV, to save for a rainy and sick day, or to go on a cruise every year. That's what it means to be American, to have the freedom to make decisions ourselves.


Until next week,
S.G.