What's the big deal about healthcare? This topic I struggle with. I don't see how a national healthcare program would infringe on our rights as an individual. In Alabama, we are already required to pay car insurance for the safety of our car.  Why shouldn't we pay taxes for health insurance for the safety of our bodies! The poor overwhelmingly support this bill, so obviously the money is not the issue.  Is the issue the pride? Must we depend on our own hard work for everything? Obviously we love help because we have religions based off of gods who help us, so why must we neglect help from other human beings? Wars happen because the countries refuse to help each other, so why not avoid that altogether? National healthcare is not a revolutionary idea, it had been going on in other countries for years.  Lucas Siefert was telling us the other day that national healthcare isn't even a problem because it's just how things are.  Only because we are given the opportunity for protecting our selves is it a problem.  After years of continuation, things become the norm.  Civil rights is now no longer an issue to the young generation of 2013, 50 years from now, gay marriage will be just as normal.  Healthcare will be the same way.

The first week of the government shutdown has gone by and still no progress.  Republicans are refusing to raise the debt limit and Obama is determined not to give in on this issue.  The US may be facing the decision to default, which would cripple the US economy and also impact the global economy.  I believe that both sides are right in what they want.  The liberals want to raise the debt limit and the conservatives want to decrease the debt.  Because neither side can get what they want, why not do both? Raise the debt ceiling so that the government has breathing room to comfortably make decisions on how to lower the debt.  We need not be selfish as a nation to get what we want.  If we remain selfish and eventually default because of our stubbornness, the world economy would be crushed because so many countries rely on payment from the United States for bills. We should raise the debt ceiling and re-open congress so that the lives of other countries aren't ruined, then we can take care of our own policies.  Make congress publish a budget to hold them responsible and put responsible people in congress.  If we take these small steps, then we ca avoid disaster.

It amazes me how as children we are taught how to share, compromise, and work together, yet we cannot exhibit those things when it comes to the US congress.  It is inexcusable how congress has refused to fund some of Obama's health care act.  It has already been passed, it has already been Supreme Court approved, so what's the hold up? This selfish act of some of the republican congressmen is detrimental to the whole nation.  If we live in a democracy, then officials we elect must learn to accept the democratic policy that sometimes the public will go against your opinion.  The refusal to cooperate has driven America into a government shutdown.  Everyone of those congressmen should be replaced because they have failed to prove productive.  It has been said that 10% of people are happy with the job congress has done.  My question is where are the 10% of America that actually approves? Those voting that way obviously are not educated about what congress has achieved.  Since I am under 18 I cannot vote, but I challenge you to vote for someone that YOU know will do a good job.  It is time to end the ignorance in America end the time of congress stubbornly arguing for hours only to accomplish nothing.  Please vote so that America can continue on as a nation.