Something That Was Said During the State of the Union Address.

Why the hell is an Aussie writing about the State of the Union Address? (SOTU) I hear the rowdy rabble roar from the rear. Well, it's because what happens in the U.S. affects what happens in Australia, and in fact, affects much of the world. The Stock market in Australia hardly does a thing until they've heard what is happening in the US. We have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan because Terrorists attacked the US. and it goes on.
So, I like to keep abreast of what is happening over there.

Although riddled with fabrications, prevarications, Spin and just blatant Lies. The one paragraph that did catch my attention was when Shrub said that his Government was meeting it's responsibility in providing Health Care for the poor and Elderly. That's just wrong.
Recently in America there has been a huge cock-up with the way the Federal Government is "providing Health Care for the sick and Elderly" in fact the exact opposite would be more accurate.
About 3/4 of the way through the SOTU address he said. -

Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility. For all Americans, we must confront the rising cost of care

Why is that so bad?
Well, just recently Bush introduced one of his policy's for Health Care for people on low income. The introduction to this system was an absolutely disaster. People were supposed to have their names transfered over to an Insurance Company, this didn't happen they were just kicked off instead so something like 6 million Sick, Disabled and Elderly were left with no option than to pay the full price for their medications.
Most, if not all, could not afford to do that. But can you imagine how these people felt when they heard that news?

It may not sound that big a deal but if you can imagine and Old age pensioner, some one in a wheel chair or who is in so much pain that getting to the Chemist or Dr. is a mission in itself and then to have the Pharmacist say "No, sorry, you've been taken off the list" I can't even imagine the panic and despair that some of the people would have felt knowing that from now on they cannot get any of their medications.

But then, in the SOTU address this man with War in his Heart Say's "Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility. For all Americans, we must confront the rising cost of care."

Why do the people of the US take this ? Do they not care (unless it happens to them or someone close to them of course) Do they think someone else will fix the problem? Do they actually believe what their President is saying when he Say's things like that?
We have our problems in Australia but I honestly don't think our PM could ever get away with such blatant prevarications as what the US Government seem to be getting away with.


Here is the full transcript of the speech if you would like to read it.
SOTU Transcript