Great analogy, Marilyn.

I just don't think his health care plan is sustainable. I don't like the idea of the government ultimately running 1/6th of our economy. He can spend all day saying, "Oh, it won't cover illegals," but once what he wants is in place, I have no doubt it will morph and become something much broader over time.

As an example, when they initially made it illegal not to treat anyone who walked into an ER, I assume the figures they touted regarding future cost projections were based on data that did not account for the many, many, many, many illegals who would make their way across the border and walk in ready to give birth, etc.

Even if today he said, "We'll pay for it by saving money RIGHT HERE" and pointed to some specific line item, that's all just smoke and mirrors, even if he buys into it himself and thinks it's assurance that things will be fine. It's like me telling my husband, "Hey! If we cut our cable we'll save $40/month, and then we can afford a membership at the gym, which is a mere $40! It's balanced - awesome!"

And for a few months, that would be true.

But then we'd have a baby, and the baby would become a preschooler, and I'd want him to see the Disney Channel shows all the other kids got to see, and we'd add cable back in. In the meantime, the gym membership doubled, and my husband started using additional services like a trainer that added even more to the cost.

When we cut the cable and thought we were making a dollar for dollar swap we felt great about it. But over time, it simply did not play out like we planned.

I think the same thing would happen with health care. Regardless of whether or not I think the government should be in the business of putting a plan out there specifically to be competitive (what a bad business plan is THAT? Cause private businesses to fold because they don't have your government subsidy and can't offer your premium price??

In the long run, I think this will be LESS helpful for Americans and their health than the system we have now. I'm all about reform, but not to the extent he wants to see.

I'd feel the same way if a Republican was making plans like Obama's! I think it's a bad, bad idea. I love Americans - both rich and poor - enough to NOT want this for them, because I think it will cripple our nation before we know it.