Health Care Reform

I don't like politics. I am a one-issue voter; I freely admit to that. And I'd be happy to share my one-issue with anyone who asks. But my dad sent me this link (at bottom). I don't know if it was dubbed, or sliced, or anything like that. But I do know that the health care reform bill scares me ~ I've always been taught to work for what I wanted in life. It’s how I was raised. I like to have a choice in who my doctors are. I usually go to people I trust; doctors I've heard about either via reputation or previous experience. I want to be able to have a chance at surviving breast cancer, skin cancer, or whatever other sickness that may come my way and I'm afraid that if my heath care rights are taken away because the percentage of Americans who cannot afford health care (I believe Congressman Rogers quoted 15%?), just because its "not fair" for them. Quite frankly, that’s a load of crap. I grew up in a household where we weren't given things ~ my siblings and I worked for them by doing our "job" well (which, at the time, was our education). I grew up in a privileged household. I freely admit to that, but was taught to appreciate hard work and that the important things in life shouldn't be just "given" to you because you "deserve" them, but because you've worked for them. Its the same principle behind winning by forfeit in a baseball game - sure, you won and its a W in the books, but did you really deserve the win? Same principle as if you cheat on a test or homework. Sure, you might get a good grade and not get caught or get a zero, but at what loss to your sense of self, personal well-being?

What are we teaching the youth of America (and I know - because I DO teach the Youth of America) - that it's okay to accept and give hand outs because someone's life isn't fair? Because they've had a run of bad luck, or turned to drugs/alcohol, or just because they're lazy? I have students who have crappy home lives. They come to me from all walks of life and I’m supposed to tell them that they have to actually put forth effort for what they want in life when it could be just given to them in the “real world?” No.

And I know that many of my friends are democrats; I find no fault in your politics ~ we live in America and are given the right to our own beliefs (because of the men and women who fight/have fought for us to have those rights)

I'm not saying that our current health care situation is ideal and perfect; clearly its not. And admittedly, I don't follow politics enough to have an understanding of the situation. And while I have degrees in English, a masters in English Education & working towards a masters in English lit ~ I don't speak "politics" so I have a hard time understanding all of the politicsese so I googled the health care reform bill & found a breakdown of it in regular language. I don't know where it came from, or if it’s correct, or what.

I do know one thing. What Congressman Rogers says in this clip about the health care reform bill scares me. The government is messed up – there’s a lot going on that I’m not overall thrilled with. I pay taxes, I voted. And it seems to me, that putting the government in charge of health care would possibly make the standards of health care weakened. The government isn’t able to control illegal aliens entering the country (trust me – I’m all for immigration, but I believe there are proper channels that a person should go through), they aren’t able to control spending (clearly the trillion dollar debt we’re in and the failed government bailout program are examples of this), why on earth would anyone think that they are able to control health care? And, last time I checked the United States of America was founded on the principles of the government being OF the people, BY the people and FOR the people – perhaps those who are elected should listen to what the people want?


http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc
http://www.naturalnews.com/026733_health_health_care_healthcare.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2300451/posts

Mutiny! Mutiny!

Last Friday the 7th graders held a mutiny. Their goal: to "discuss their concerns with me about their treatment in class." We discussed it... they don't understand that they can't be treated like 10th graders, because they don't act like 10th graders. They're 7th graders... they act like insecure, immature, 7th graders.

Well. Today, I discovered that the 8th grade is following the 7th grade's lead and also wants to "discuss their concerns" -- just one question: when did I become the hated teacher? For the first time in my teaching career, I had the thought of "I hate my job." Which is wrong; because I can truly say that I love my job. All aspects about it ~ even the parents & the psycho kids. But this... all I can think is it must be something wrong with me. Something that I'm not doing right... something that is making all of this to happen. Short of walking away in the middle of the year - I don't know what to do. I dread teaching the 7th graders for the next half-year. Dread it. I never wanted to be in this position and I can't get anyone to understand what I'm dealing with. I literally feel lost, and drowning. I'm treading water, barely keeping my head above water.

I feel like, personally, I've failed them. All of them. 7th, 8th, 9th... 10th... All of them.