Why yes, I AM ready to rock

Before I get to the fun stuff, a little bit about health care reform.

All right, I heard those groans. I won't keep you past the bell, I promise, but I think this is something worth noting. This is from an article on Politics Daily, and it concerns the report released by the health insurance industry (a report paid for by a health insurance trade group) stating that a health care reform bill would raise the costs of everyone's premiums.

After the health insurance industry released a report Monday attacking Democrats' plans for health reform, it appears that the insurance lobby and the White House have abandoned all hope of working together on the issue, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. The White House had spent months courting the industry for input on reform, but the report and the ensuing battle of rhetoric suggests that insurers have become the administration's chief enemy in the health care battle.

The health insurance lobby was a key player in defeating reform 15 years ago under President Clinton. Obama had hoped to avoid a similar showdown by inviting various industry groups -- hospitals, drug makers and insurers -- to participate in the negotiations. But after the critical report funded by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) hit Washington earlier this week, the gloves came off.

"The insurance industry has decided to lead the charge against health reform, and everyone recognizes their motives: profits," White House deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer said. "We are going to make sure they can't sink this effort at the last minute."

Insurers, meanwhile, responded with one of the oldest tactics in the book: spreading concern among senior citizens that they will lose their current benefits. AHIP launched a multi-state ad campaign warning seniors that Democratic legislation would take away benefits they receive from private Medicare accounts.

It seems abundantly clear to me that health insurance companies are opposing this so vehemently for one reason and one reason only: it will cut into their obscene profits.

I'm not talking about hospitals or doctors or people who actually deliver the health care. This is about insurance companies who dictate whether you will or will not get treatment, and tell you whether they will or will not pay for it. For anyone who thinks that the insurance companies are motivated by concern for patients and helping them get the care they need, I have to wonder (as Mark said in a comment), "Are you HIGH?" If you are unable to get beyond the mistaken belief that this is going to lead to "socialized medicine," if you are incapable of feeling compassion for others who might not be in as good a position as you when it comes to being able to afford health care, if you can turn a blind eye to your fellow citizens who are suffering and yes, dying because they cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition, if you are so rock stupid that you can't comprehend that there may come a day when you won't be able to afford insurance or you get deathly ill and max out your coverage or you have to declare bankruptcy because you can't pay your medical bills...even if you are unable to grasp any of these simple concepts, perhaps you can understand cold, hard cash. That is exactly what the insurance companies are concerned about: getting yours and keeping theirs. Let their opposition to a health care reform bill be a clue to you. They don't want this because it will cut into their profits, and they obtain those profits from you. Don't let them keep doing this to the American people.

[stepping down one level on my soapbox]

Rinnnggggg! See? I timed that perfectly.

Now for the fun stuff! When I went out to get the mail today, there was a huge box sitting on the steps. The new Rock Band's here! The new Rock Band's here! A little while later (while I was putting everything together, in fact), the UPS guy came by with the mike stand. So the instruments are all set up and ready to go, now we're just waiting for the Wii itself, the other software, and the other guitar. I swear, we must have an Amazon distribution center around here, because when did I order this stuff? Monday evening? That was fast.

Yes, that is a curio cabinet full of penguins. Why do you ask?

I talked to Ken's Mom today, and Ken had mentioned to her that maybe we'll have his stepbrother and his wife over when they're here for Thanksgiving, and play some Rock Band. Ken's Mom said, "Heck with that—I might want to play, too!" Now that would be a sight to see!

One thing I've heard about this is that it's brought some classic rock to a whole new group of kids who have never heard a lot of it before. Hard to argue with that. I'd like to know where the Kinks are, though! I'm sure there are all kinds of licensing agreements that have to be dealt with, so not every band or song I love is going to be included. On the next edition, I want to see "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?" Make it happen!

Oh, and thanks Lisa, for telling me how much you love it. Hearing that a fellow rock chick has so much fun with it tells me that I'll enjoy it, too. I can't say I'll get into "Talk Dirty To Me" as much as you did, but I'm definitely looking forward to getting into some Blondie and Devo. Haha! Hey, I feel an uncontrollable urge for a little Devo right now. (And yes, this song is on the game. Yay!)