A Lot Happened Last Year

As today marks one year anniversary of Alabama tornadoes outbreak, I look back the year of 2011. There is nothing like 2011. There was a earthquake that hit Japan, of course tornado. Personally, I got to have girlfriend but experienced break up too. I graduated from JSU and started master's at UAB. New friends, and friends gone far. Some got married.

It's amazing all those things have happened and passed. Time flies. Now one year since tornado outbreak.

My second semester in graduate school is almost over too. I feel this semester is the shortest I have ever had. Strange. UAB has a little longer semester than JSU, but it's passing by really fast.

There were some 1st ever's this past year too.

I started to live in an apartment by myself. I started cook like never before.

First bus ride from one side of the U.S to the other. May not be so great though. I flew to New York and ride back to Alabama.

It's first time that I have a place in the States that I want to go back sometimes. I have so many friends in Jacksonville, and reuniting with them is something special to me.

Oh, I have to renew my Alabama driver's license in next month. This will be a first too.

God has blessed me with so many things... and lessons. Definitely the Year 2011 remains deep in my heart.

Emotion over rationality

At last night class we had a very interesting discussion.

We talked about how American politic is in gridlock. Health care reform has been on the topic of news lately. The U.S. has a well developed health care, yet access to it is limited. Costs are on a rise, insurances charge high premium. It's clear to everyone that something is not right. Medicine is not for keeping patients coming back to hospitals. It's for well-being of people.

Everyone knows it. Then, why is even some of general public opposed to the healthcare reform? It's fear and emotion that rules over rationality.

The opposition's popular reasons are something like, "It's socialist way," "It's not American way," "It takes away choices."

I agree with the professor. They don't know what socialism is.

I was astounded when I first heard people around me, clearly conservatives as living in the South, condemning the new proposal as socialist. It shows me how they label socialism not knowing what it exactly is. It's prejudice, hate.

What would happen if you took away socialistic aspect from this country? No Social Security, no Medicare and Medicaid. Just leave everything to private sector. Great Depression is one example. That event is the reason why Social Security was created. To protect people from injustice and things unexpected, the government has adapted socialistic approach while keeping capitalist economy. 

If it's not the American way, then what is? Market-based competition as some Republicans argue? Then that very system has led us where we are right now. This system has already failed. The whole health care market raised the expense.

This reform takes choices away? Then, what are the other choices? Is there an alternative? We don't have many choices in the first place. Paying high premium for insurance or paying good chunk of money at once. If insurance rejects you, you don't even have the first choice.

One more thing. It's mandate to purchase auto insurance when owning a car. States enforce the rule and state by state, necessary amount of insurance is different, but it's universal across the country. And it's good because you never know when accident is sometimes out of your control.

If it's acceptable that car insurance is mandate universally, why is it not for health insurance? Illness is not under your control. Is it not good that everyone can afford health insurance and necessary care?

But, I guess that's the constant problem of democracy. Different value, ways of thinking that contradict always make gridlock in the process.

Following is an interesting article about universal health care.
Harvey Rosenfield: Why the Supreme Court Wants to Kill Universal Health Care