Something occured to me this afternoon, when pondering the nature of health care in the US. First, to understand my opinion of health care, you must look at wealth and taxation in the United States. In simple terms, the richest 1 per cent of the US pay nearly a third of all federal taxes. The richest tenth pay something like 75% of all taxes, and the richest quarter of the US pay effectively all taxes in the country. Now, given spread of wealth by race, the majority of the richest quarter of Americans are white, and the majority of the poorest fifth of the US are not white; predominately they are black and hispanic. The poorest third are the most likely to be without health insurance or health care.

That preface is point out that there is racial disparity to the tax money that would fund any kind of universal health care. In effect, rich white folks will, by the government's bidding, be paying for the health care and wellbeing of poor black and hispanic folks.

The last time a rich white fellow was invested in the health and well being of a poor black fellow was probably a plantation owner in the 1850s, muttering that a sick negro picks no cotton. Just some food for thought.

The nature of race has been on my mind of late,mostly due to the Rev. Wright/Obama fiasco. I suppose if Rev. Wright can effectively blame white folks for 9/11, I should be able to get away with saying something racially charged.

If black folks can say with no remorse or reservations that they're voting for Obama because he's black, shouldn't I be able to say I'm not voting for him because he's white?

Me and the wifey are getting a check from Uncle Sam next month to the tune of almost a grand, as part of the economic stimulus package. I told her we'll invest it. We're fine without it, we can't really give it back, so it's the best we can do. I fear too many people will simply blow it on short term junk, or get out of some emergency debt, which does next to nothing to really stimulate the economy. Nothing's really going to reinvigorate the economy until people start choosing to not get into debt over their heads, until they start investing and planning and quit relying on their corporations and the government to take care of their future.

Me and Bec are having a boy. Declan Frederick. Happy Easter, everyone. Regardless of where it came from, it's still about the Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting.