The healthcare debate is huge right now, and quite frankly, giving me a massive headache. In a funny kind of way, it reminds me of the gay marriage debate.

So often it seems people ask straight people what they think of gay marriage. I don’t care what straight people think of gay marriage because it doesn’t apply to them. Nobody ever stopped to ask me what I thought of straight people getting married, now did they?

On the topic of healthcare, it seems the people who are against it are ones with a nice coverage package through their employers. Gee, how convenient. Nobody asks someone who it actually affects. I’m a perfect example. I’m self employed, I used to pay for my health coverage out of pocket, and I finally just decided to let it go because the price was so high. I take a gamble with my health every day, but that’s just the way it is here in America.

I also love, love, love the people who pin this on the Democrats. Hey, in case you hadn’t noticed, we have a Democrat for President. Healthcare was a major discussion during his entire campaign and he outlined his goals over and over again. Don’t act so shocked.

John McCain just wanted to give people a tax credit, as if that would have solved anything.

The fact remains that our healthcare system is downright embarrassing. Insurance companies encourage their staff to deny claims. It’s a twisted monopoly in which making a profit is more important than helping someone who is sick. We’ve completely lost touch with the point, and I find it sad that some of the poorest countries in the world offer better coverage than we do.

Where else would you walk into an emergency room and be denied service because you didn’t have insurance?

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The state that divides the East and the West is quickly becoming a symbol of progress.

Rodney and I both grew up in the state of Illinois, but never thought of it as progressive. Sure, it’s a blue state, but it’s nothing like the city of Chicago, the third largest city in the U.S. As soon as you leave the city limits, all you have is a very long, flat, and pretty boring state. Like other Midwestern states, it’s also fairly conservative.

But in the past week, Illinois has quietly put the wheels into motion for civil unions and legalized medical marijuana. Surprisingly there hasn’t been a lot of outcry from conservatives… at least not yet.

Starting with civil unions…

On March 5, the Illinois House passed a bill for civil unions by a vote of 5-4, which would give domestic partners access to 648 different state laws that only married couples currently get to enjoy. Now that the bill has passed, it will be moved to a full House vote on the floor.

The name of the bill is The Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act. I thought this was very clever because it seems to focus on the separation of church and state… a real slap in the face to conservatives who try to force their religious beliefs into state laws.

Medical marijuana…

On March 4, the Illinois House approved a measure for medical marijuana by a vote of 4-3. Just like the civil unions, this will also now be left to the full House vote before it can take effect.

If passed, people would be allowed to keep up to 7 dried cannabis plants and/or up to 2 ounces of usable marijuana in their home… only after receiving approval from a doctor, of course.

Breaking new ground…

If these pass, it could mean big things for the state of Illinois. Our country needs to loosen up and stop banning everything. These things are already legal in many foreign countries. But if a Midwest state located right in the middle of the country followed this trend, it could open doors all over the rest of the U.S.

We will see what happens. I think the civil unions may actually make it, but I have my doubts about the medical marijuana passing just yet.

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Thanks to everyone who participated in my recent poll about President Obama.

The results to date are:

50% of my readers think positively of him and your opinion has not changed either way since he took office.

42% think more positively of him now, indicating that your support for him has increased in the past week.

6% feel negative about him, and this has not changed either way since he took office.

3% feel more negative now, indicating you’ve been disappointed since he became President.

Voting is still open, so feel free to participate. You can also share your thoughts in the comments.

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It’s been one week since our newly elected President Obama was sworn into office.

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If history has taught us anything, when Bush opens his mouth, you can expect to hear something crazy.

For the sake of everyone’s sanity, I really thought he was going to spend the last month of his term quietly, as he did during the elections. Hasn’t the guy done enough damage?

Today he said that “there can be no debate about the results in keeping America safe” post 9/11.

Hmmm…

Okay, yes, I do agree that there have not been any terrorist attacks since 9/11. But saying that kind of makes it sound like we get attacked every day, which we don’t.

And who was in charge on 9/11? Oh yeah, he was.

So were the victims of 9/11 just test dummies? There are mountains of evidence that show he was forewarned of the attacks before they happened.

And speaking of “safe”, how exactly would you classify the response time on getting help to Hurricane Katrina victims?

Reporters and volunteer rescue teams were on the scene immediately. What the hell took him so long?

I really don’t like writing posts that are bitter and infused with negativity, but we’re talking about human lives here. I understand that sometimes humans make mistakes, and a President is human, just like anyone else.

But this guy has consistently made poor decisions and displayed bad judgement while running this country.

Bush has started some weird campaign where he’s trying to go around the world to convince everyone that he’s really a good guy.

That’s kind of rubbing salt on barely healed wounds, don’t you think?

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Throwing a shoe at George W. Bush doesn’t even begin to make up for all the damage he’s done as our President…

But it sure is a good start. I can’t get enough of this video! If you haven’t heard, an Iraqi journalist threw both of his shoes at Bush today, missing his head by just a few inches.

Photo from The Huffington Post

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President Obama is wasting no time putting together a swift plan of action for when he takes office on January 20, 2009. He has a team looking into reversing 200 items that were put into effect during the Bush years. Insiders have said he plans to go back to the Clinton era and build from what worked well, and improve areas that are weak.

This is all speculation, of course, but it does appear that Obama plans to make many things happen all at once, rather than gradually.

The obvious area of focus is the economy, and he has made it very clear that he is going to push for another stimulus package for Americans. He also has stated plans to help the automobile industry get back on its feet, but he also wants much stricter regulations on the fuel efficiency. These vehicle that only get 13MPG should be banned. We can do better than that, and shame on anyone who drives a vehicle like that. I hope you’re at least letting people carpool with you.

Obama also plans to put more money into stem cell research, where Bush actually cut funding. If this can help save people, I think we definitely need to be investing into it.

Affordable healthcare for everyone appears to still be at the forefront, and quite frankly, I’m relieved. I recently had to let my own insurance coverage go. I just couldn’t continue paying the highly inflated fees. As a 26-year-old man in perfect health, it just wasn’t feasible with my budget. Contrary to the rumors spread during the campaign, the new healthcare plan does not harm your existing coverage, so there is nothing to worry about if you have it through your employer.

Here are two topics that I hope to see in his plans in the near future:

1.) Something that gives same sex couples the same benefits as married couples. We can fight over the difference between the words “marriage” vs. “civil union” later, but I want immediate action about benefits. Obama has pledged to make this happen many times on the campaign trail, and I expect him to deliver. I don’t want any public vote for it either. We deserve equal benefits, it’s non-negotiable.

2.) Increased funding and research for HIV/AIDS. Two decades later and we still don’t have a cure! Get on it. I’m tired of HIV taking a back seat in American politics.

I’m so impressed with how quickly Obama has started laying out his plans for 2009. He really has been prepared to take office on Day 1. I hope the people who had doubts will now see just how intelligent he is and what a great President he will be.

What’s on your wishlist for the Obama administration?

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I was drowning in negativity and didn’t even realize it. Sometimes it just happens that way. It starts with a slow drip… drip… drip. Then the water starts to rise until you are in over your head and you think it’s too late for anyone to throw you a life jacket.

I guess it started last January. Rodney and I were both passionate Hillary Clinton supporters. Please understand we never disliked Barack Obama. We simply liked her more than we liked him.

Things were looking pretty good and we were inspired by her… moved by her energy and convinced she was going to win. Then things took an ugly turn. She got ugly, her supporters got ugly, and we all got a little too confident. The bottom fell out and we all know how that ended.

By summer, she had bowed out and thrown her support behind Barack, and we did too. That’s when things got ugly from the Republicans, and the ugliness only intensified as the year went on. We became CNN junkies, watching the news programs every night.

Once autumn rolled around, discussions about Barack Obama were a regular part of our routine. Rodney and I would start the morning examining polls, news reports, and we were both deeply invested in this campaign. By October, we joked to each other that we’d become so wrapped up in politics that we couldn’t remember what life was like before this campaign. What were we going to talk about after November 4th?

Well the day has finally come, and I feel an incredible sense of peace and relief that this hard fought battle is over. I feel renewed, like I’m about to experience a new world that I’ve never seen before. A better place.

CNN interviewed Oprah Winfrey after Barack gave his speech tonight, and I was so moved by her. She always inspires me, and I guess I had forgotten what it’s like to feel good. I’ve been so tense, so bitter and angry about the constant attacks on Obama from the Republicans over the recent months. I guess I was drowning in anger and didn’t even know it.

It’s time to get back to peace now. It’s time to lick our wounds and find common ground with our brothers and sisters. It’s time for me to be a more positive, more inspirational person like I used to be. It’s time for me to get back to the real Nathan.

I’m so happy to have experienced this in my lifetime. No victory comes without some dark times. We’re now moving into the light.

Won’t you help me bring the light into the world? Let’s roll up our sleeves and be the best we can be every day. When I think of Barack Obama, I don’t think about the man I was, I think about the man I want to be.

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I threw this graphic together. Feel free to use it. I’m confident this will be the outcome.

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Have you ever loved a contestant on American Idol, only to be shocked when he or she was booted off, despite incredible popularity? They lost because you didn’t call the number and vote for them, right?

Tomorrow is the exact same thing on a much grander scale. It does not matter how much you love Barack Obama, how much you support him and want him to be President. If you don’t get out there and vote for him, he will not win this election! Votes are the only way to make him President. Do not listen to the polls that show him with a 7 point national lead.

On the night before the 2000 election, Al Gore had a 7 point lead too. We all know how that one ended, don’t we? 8 years of George W. Bush!

Do not assume that Obama will win. Go vote, wait in line as long as it takes. Cancel your appointments, take the day off work. This election is too important to leave to fate. VOTE. VOTE. VOTE.

And if you’re in California, vote NO on Prop 8. Also, vote YES on Prop 2, which helps stop cruelty to animals.

VOTE!

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