> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Health care is important to me. Without it, I’d probably pass on. I’m not ready to pass on yet, because I’ve got more exciting living to do. That is, if the government gets out of my hair. Most of my hair loss is due to guessing what the government will do next. One of the problems now is who pays for health care when we desperately need it, as I did a couple years back. They opened my heart, did some things to it and wired me back together again. It cost about $175,000.

The government is more important to me than I once thought it was. Years ago, they introduced Medicare and Medicaid, which was a bitter fight, and the government does a fine job helping keep old soldiers and sailors alive. We can’t fight anymore, but it’s nice of them to remember and help take care of us. They also help old folks swallow scads of drugs each day. And we have the option to buy supplementary [to Medicare] health care insurance, which costs me about $200 per month. So with Medicare, the VA and supplementary insurance, the valve job on my heart cost me maybe a $1,000 or so. Without the government intruding into the health care of my life, I’d be in an eternal rest-care facility in a place that has a kind of socialist health care system. God and his nursing angels take care of the weak and the poor and let the rich buy their own way out of an other-worldly inferno.

What happens if you have none of the above, or a job, and get sick? When asked, George W. Bush said, “Go to a hospital.” Mitt Romney said the “safety net” would take care of you. Who pays for this safety net, riddled with holes? You do and I do. It’s called tax collection. It seems that the richest and most powerful nation on earth could provide a health care system that would care for the millions of our people who don’t have it. Other countries do.

If you follow the news — not recommended — you may need additional medical attention. When the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) passed in 2010, staunch conservatives declared war, because they insist Obama doesn’t care for people, especially them. They said it was unconstitutional and filed suit. The Supreme Court, which now decides most everything in your life, deliberated deliberately. Don’t rush the Supreme Court, because several of them are getting up in years and need health care. Thanks to taxpayers, they have a kind of “welfare” plan something like a permanent health-food stamp, as do our senators and representatives. Have you ever seen a sick congressperson needing admission to Walter Reed Hospital? I’m talking physical here, with no reference intended regarding some of those, who may be a bit “touched” in the head, most of whom are re-elected, but that’s our fault.

When ObamaCare passed, nobody read it, except political advisers and government consultants, who are paid lucratively for each word they read and write. One word in Obama’s health Bible — mandate — nearly started Civil War II. All citizens will have to buy health insurance, and provisions were made for those who couldn’t afford it. Theoretically, if all citizens bought various types of health insurance at nominal and affordable rates, insurance rates for all would decline. Those, who flood emergency rooms without insurance, would no longer be financed by the taxpayer. There are provisions in the plan that cover just about everything. If you are bored, read ObamaCare. It’s free at, ushappydays/$$.gov.

The Supreme Court went behind closed doors, ripped off their robes due to the scorching global heat wave and re-read the constitution. That didn’t help, because they were locked into what’s known as either a liberal or conservative prison. Who says that Supreme Court justices with lifetime appointments don’t play politics? Las Vegas odds makers had conservatives, 15 to 1 favorites over the libs. We don’t know what transpired behind the closed door, robes conceal bruises. It was a miracle, or a tragedy. Chief Justice John Roberts, a staunch conservative broke the tie, voting to uphold the Affordable Care Act. What got into him? Could it be that he thought it was the “right” thing to do? Whatever the political cost to the president, he stood for health care for all Americans. Romney intends to do the “right’ thing and repeal it. The health of our nation depends on two political factions joining forces. Go take pain medication and lie down for four months.

For relief, contact Terry Cummins at TLCTLC@AOL.com.