Some healthy talk?

Many will not realize it, but today's expected ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on the health care law will have as significant an impact on day to day life as any in the last twenty years or so, and could very well go down in history as one of the top ten in that category.

"Balderdash!", you say. "Not", I retort.  

The simple political ramifications (well not so simple) could be staggering.  Depending how much of the law is kept in tact, the hue and cry from the press, public interest groups, politicians will be deafening in the political spectrum.

The Republicans actually have more to lose than the Democrats from the ruling.  If the decision strikes down the package in its entirety, or significantly enough to render it useless, or worse an albatross, than the Dems will be able to : 1).  Lament that the state of health will ruin this country unless something is done; and 2). the Republicans have been obstructing any serious attempts at reform since the early Clinton years; and, 3). No serious alternative has been proposed.

Point blank, something does in fact need to be done.  

There are signs that the plan here in Massachusetts is workable, if imperfect.  It needs to be tweaked, a little in some areas and significantly in others, but it was first of all a plan and secondly, as with most radical concepts which change a "status quo" it is a work in progress (i.e. the kind you want, you know something that works and which progresses to become better).

We as a country cannot wait until such time as someone comes up with a "plan" that everyone will look at and cry "Eureka!".  We have neither the time, nor the money.

this is not a piece in support of the current law or against it.  If the some or all of the provisions violate the constitution or existing law, the must be struck down.  What I am saying is something that has been said time and time again, by many people, the fact that a D or an R appears after the name of the person(s) making a proposal should not be the main grounds for support or opposition to it.

In fact you want to reform elections and politics, the best ban that anyone can come up with would be to ban the political parties.  Alas, that one would certainly not survive a court test. 

Enough of that ramble....

Where are we heading?  Look at page A6 of the S-T today, bottom left.  Stockton, CA is filing for bankruptcy.  Not the first time this has happened in this country, nor will it be the last.  It is a relatively uncommon event, however, it is one I think will soon become less uncommon.

Money, and the lack thereof, is going to be a an increasing issue for municipalities throughout the country.    While over the years we have all become all most numb to the cry that "next year" will be worse than this year, each succeeding year has remained a juggling act when balancing the books.

Indeed, my own experiences looking at municipal coffers is very much like the performer in the act.  you start out tossing three rubber balls.  A good start, but every year someone throws another object in.  no matter how good a juggler you are, eventually you reach the point where there are only so many items you can toss into the air at anyone given time.  

At some point you reach the maximum number, and as time progresses, you either have to stop, or throw something out of the rotation if you want to still continue to juggle.

Westport seems to have reached that point, New Bedford seems to be gearing up for it.  that will be one heck of an act to watch when the next round of contracts takes place, along with the needs of its school system, and that still looming "furlough" issue.  Fairhaven is pretty darn close.  

The collective we continue to put band-aids on gashes, minimizing the blood loss.  Band-aids don't last forever; and, sooner or later you run out of band-aids.

If you cannot find a way to keep your expenses within the limited revenue, well ...

Something worth your time:

Great insert in today's paper about the Fairhaven Bi-Centennial.  A number of articles concerning significant events and periods during the Town's 200 years, with a running time line.