To Be or Not To Be: The Public Option and thoughts on politics

As one of the former employed who will be losing my health insurance in March, I strongly and sincerely call on Congress to pass health care reform containing a full and robust public option. That is one of the reasons I worked so hard to elect President Obama and the Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. This is the time when the proverbial rubber needs to meet the road.

We the People created a huge call for change during our last election, yet I haven't seen very much change in the way legislation is being crafted. Kowtowing to industry and corporate welfare seems to be the message of the day. We the People elected you, and if you can't get Our Business done instead of getting Corporations' Business done, then I will work even harder to elect people who will actually live up to their campaign promises.

Speaking of which, there was once a thing called truth in advertising, and this whole mess has me thinking about starting a grassroots effort to sue elected officials who break their advertised campaign promises.

And since we're on the topic of advertising... am I the only one who's noticed that healthcare costs started skyrocketing immediately after we removed or watered down the regulations regarding advertising for prescription drugs???

Perhaps the politics of the day is too entrenched in the culture and we need to work to make it easier for parties other than Dems and Repubs to be in power. Maybe other parties could do a better job and create the change we demanded (and so desperately need) in our last election. If a majority in the House and Senate can't make this happen, then we have a very serious problem on our hands.

Either way, not a dime of my now limited money will go to support any political campaign or organization that does not support real reform in our healthcare system.

Returning to my personal blog

So I've taken a roller coaster ride in my work life these last six months. I am now laid off, but unexpectedly, happier than I've been in a long time...

With the exception of the intense diversity and inclusion work I had been involved with at my former company, I was completely burnt out on the job that I had. I was really good at it, but it didn't really challenge me. And I discovered that a bored Tams is not a happy Tams, especially from a career perspective.

Speaking of perspectives, I've done a lot of introspection this last month. I didn't plan to spend my vacation laid up with a sprained ankle, but I think perhaps I needed it... the time and space to sit with myself (and have time with my family, both people and pets). I discovered I had to learn how to breathe all over again. My conclusions are that I do not at all feel guilty for being laid off (I tend to more judgmental about myself than others). I do not think I would have been happy staying in the same kind of role for another few years. And I would have missed out on some of the most amazing moments of my motherhood this month.

Instead, I am happy that I've got this cushion in which I can think about new things and explore new challenges, and that I can target them to somehow find a way to earn enough to support the family, yet work at home so I have more time to spend with my family. They are the best de-stressers in the world! I am thankful every day for them.