There was a time when the congress of the United States seemed to work together for the betterment of the people. Most recently that was around 2010 when they voted on the Affordable Care Act (labeled Obamacare not out of respect, but for demeaning purposes). The congress had something like 79 debates/open discussions/ hearings before it was passed. Both democrats and republicans weighed in on the bill and had input. This was certainly not the bill the democrats would have liked (single payer comes to min) and even more certainly it was not the bill republicans would have passed, mainly because the bill wasn’t their idea even though it was patterned after a state law brought forward by a republican Governor, Mitt Romney.

The bill was passed amid great fanfare and excitement. The country finally had a health care bill, something the last 5 or 6 presidents could not get passed, a bill to help the American people with the skyrocketing cost, access and affordability of health care. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a very good beginning. They had problems getting people signed up not because the people didn’t want the insurance plans offered, but because the servers couldn’t handle the huge demand. Some 20 million more Americans now have health insurance, much better insurance, then before.

There is now no lifetime limit on health care costs that when reached the sick were previously just out of luck. Young people just getting started or slow to leave home can be insured under their parents plan until age 26. People couldn’t be turned down because they had a pre-existing condition, as was the case before the ACA.

All in all Obamacare was a reasonably good start to help make the lives of Americans better. But the problem was/is the republicans didn’t come up with the plan or they were jealous that it was successful, or they cannot stand that a black man lead them to this, or that it is helping the American people or for whatever reason they just don’t like the fact that Americans are now better off health wise because of it. They have to get rid of it. They had 8 years to come up with a better plan, but they failed miserably. Their voting in their controlled house and senate could not kill the ACA. But still the word from them is: Obamacare is horrible and needs to go.

So the betterment of the American people is, again, not the main focus of the now ruling republican party. Their goals now are to eliminate social programs that benefit Americans. Social security is in their sights. Of course health care and the ACA are still targets as are Medicare and Medicaid, food stamps, you name it. Anything to help the American people is a target.

Tax cuts are now being proposed to help the poor and middle classes. Unfortunately, their attempt to help these people doesn’t. What the bill they are proposing is going to do, if passed, according to the Government Budget Office, is give huge tax breaks

to the wealthy and big business and even raise taxes in a few years on the very same people they say it will help: the poor and middle class.

So, there was a time when Congress cared…or was there ever such a time?

There was a time when the President of the United States was a respected position held only by the person the majority of Americans wanted to lead them. Or was there such a time?

There was a time when the purpose of prisons in the United States was to punish the offenders and keep them from harming society…or was there? (Marijuana users come to mind).

There was a time when government was of the people, by the people, and for the people…or was there?

There was a time when America was GREAT…or was there?

Sick and tired of Congress’s nonsense? As the old country doctor prescribed: ”Take two aspirin and call me in the morning”