harpgirl, how can say we're doomed, when the presselect is poised to push his prescription drug bill (now take your medicine, America and pay up front...) and the patient bill of rights? ;-)

Actually, I wasn't trying to point a personal finger at you, just point out that 1.2 million more Americans have fallen into the ranks of uninsured since Bush was elected. That isn't all Bush's fault, because our Democratic "health care reform" president didn't do jack shit to change the reality of health care in this country. He caved to the many lobbies from the medical industry, and the Republican controlled Congress.

What I'm saying is if we don't get a national health care policy developed, we will be going the way of Africa. Is that what Republicans want? Is that what the wealthy want? We are surrounded by water--just where do they think the sick and disabled are going to go exactly, so they need not see or touch them? And just who do they think will be around to care for them and their baby boomer loved ones, if they do nothing to deal with the crisis in health care management, like understaffing?

But I couldn't disagree more about oil not being an issue. The price of home heating oil and natural gas may not be much of an issue where you live, but I assure you, you are going to hear plenty about it while the Congress is in recess.

And once Bush gets the war launched in January (the weather dictates Bush's timeline in Iraq, not the US Congress or the UN), you can come back and tell me the cost of gasoline isn't an issue too.

But hey, considering that the economy looks to still be going to the dogs, I'm sure working in the mental health care biz will be more lucrative, just like lawyering will be.

Sad, but true.