[sailaway21]

sck5....heck yeah, we can improve our system...haven't you been reading the health care threads? A good start would be to allow market forces to go to work on it. The only government involvement I really see necessary is to get government less involved than it is at present. I'll leave the details for the health care thread and just posit the idea that what we really have right now is a political crisis that has very little to do with the non-crisis of health care. The Republicans have plenty of ideas on how to improve the system but it doesn't really matter what they have for ideas since the Democratic- controlled Congress has told them not to bother broaching any of them as they are strictly DOA. The administration doesn't want a debate on the matter, it just wants to get the nationalization horse saddled up as soon as possible. If you have not noticed, the Republicans cannot block ANY change, as you posit, and they cannot even ensure that their ideas will get a hearing. It's your Congress, Sport! Anything they and the Obamateur do, you're going to have to wear as your own. Yup, it's as if there weren't any Republicans at all.....which should remind one to be careful for what he wishes for.

You work under the conditions you choose to work. it is up to you to either negotiate more vacation or request unpaid time off. Most companies are quite reasonable about unpaid time off or a leave of absence. Most workers, on the other hand, elect to work as much as they can; it's a rather uniquely American phenomena. Take some time off and go sail, or leave a rich widow. But do not pretend that it isn't your choice. Or is it the case that you expect your employer and the government to be in charge of your happiness as well as your health care?