Double Dose of Reality

You may have heard that Phil Gramm, former Texas Senator and McCain economic adviser, scolded America as a "Nation of Whiners" suffering from a "mental" depression. I'd like to tell Mr. Gramm that he needs to get out among the people more often.

Everywhere I go, the price of a gallon of gas is THE topic. Today, I bought my third tank of diesel. It cost $115.37 - ouch! - even though I got a pretty good price at $4.69 a gallon.

But for many, high gas prices is just another chapter in a sad story that's been going on for a long time. When I filled up the other day, the clerk in the gas station convenience store, John (not his real name), was real interested in the purple health care bus. He nodded in agreement when I told him that we believe everyone should have access to affordable health care. John told me that he and his wife had a small business that went bust when his wife needed heart surgery. His new job at the convenience store offers insurance, but it cost more than $400 per month and is crappy coverage. So, John and his wife are uninsured right now, living in fear that his wife will get sick again.

As I left, John said, "It's the working people who are hurt by this." He's right. The American Dream is dying fast for millions of working Americans facing bankruptcy due to medical costs. Until we get some politicians in Washington who understand the pain of the people, it's only going to get worse.