Let's get some discussion going! It was great seeing the ACHA ("Trumpcare") dropped by Trump and the Republicans. But our celebration should be tempered by the question, "What next?" Maintaining good healthcare coverage for the American people remains tenuous. Will opponents continue to sabotage it? Will they come up with an even worse plan? Will some health insurance companies continue to seek even higher profits instead of showing true compassion for their clients? But the biggest question for those seeking healthcare as a right for all is, What pre-emptive steps can we take to get beyond partisan politics and put quality healthcare for all on solid ground? I do not have an answer to this question in some sealed envelope "in a Mayonnaise jar under Funk and Wagnall's porch"! Let's share insights. What do you think?

On March 8, women around the world celebrated International Women's Day as "a day to commemorate the struggle for women's rights and celebrate the political, social, economic and cultural achievements of women throughout history." It truly was an international celebration (see http://time.com/4694755/international-womens-day-2017-world/ for a description of events throughout the world.) And while President Trump tweeted on that day that he has “tremendous respect for women", many voices protested the hypocrisy of such a statement when he was recorded demeaning women in a vulgar way on a widely-circulated video during the campaign. His "love for women" seems to be only for attractive women who stroke his enormous ego. But his actions (and inactions) during his time since becoming President conflict even more with his more PC tweet. Where is the concern for women whose children are stripped from them during immigration raids? Where is the concern for women in relation to equal pay for equal work? Where is the concern for single mothers being threatened with losing health care coverage, especially with Trump's and the Republican's war against one of their primary providers, Planned Parenthood? What we truly need is the kind of day-to-day concern for women's needs that will make an International Day for Women less necessary. Showing that would be true respect.

House Republicans recently introduced HR 785, called the National Right to Work act. Job opportunity was supposed to be a core issue that gave Trump the election. He was "business savvy" and would bring good jobs back to this country. But this bill reveals the promise as a lie. Trump and his cohorts in Congress want to enrich their fellow billionaires, while reducing "unnecessary" business expenses, like the cost of paying decent wages. A recent article on the Teamsters web page ("Teamsters Stand Up Against Damaging Bill, Continue Fight Against Right to Work") notes that, "Nine of the 10 states with the highest poverty rates are right-to-work states. Workers in states with right-to-work laws make about $1,500 less per year than workers in free bargaining states." And, in addition, "Workers in right-to-work states are less likely to have employer-paid health care and pensions, and more likely to die in accidents on the job." But if billionaires don't keep their labor costs down, how will they afford their yachts and multiple million-dollar mansions? This country needs our unions. They are a big reason we developed a prosperous middle-class in the first place, and we should fight for them. But, of course, there are so many fronts we have to fight on these days! How can we fight on them all? We will do it because we have to. The future of this country depends on it. Any thoughts on this from the rest of you?