I remember an advertisement for one of those home repair, financial or lifestyle radio shows; the advertisement had a picture of a woman with a look of worry or concern on her face, under the title of the program it read “this woman doesn’t care about foreign relations with Syria (or something similar) all she’s worried about is how she’ll pay her medical bills this month.” I think that that’s very telling. When people have “real” problems in their own life, feeling the crushing weight of fiscal problems, problems with their families, sex offenders living in their neighborhoods, oxy addiction and everything else, it’s hard for them to be concerned about anything else.

What matters to people more in the long run? or what’s more important? You could argue that the “big” stories, the “fox news” stories are much more important because they could affect all of us.. but, try telling that to someone who is just struggling to get by day by day. To this person, the cost of gas is important, not what’s causing it to rise; Traffic problems that’ll keep them from getting to work on time; a lax job market. To the “regular” people, to the people who don’t follow the talking heads everyword; whatever gets you through the night is what is important.

Did you ever watch CNN Headline News? The run a broadcast in the morning for people getting ready for their day. What stories to they air? Pretty much the same one’s you’ll hear in the second half of ABC News… the one’s you’ll hear on Paul Harvey. These are the things that will allow you to get through your day.

Some would argue that the “regular” people are blind. Living their lives with the misconception that them or their problems are the most important things in the world. Okay. But, I argue, before you can change the world, you have to get yourself in order first. These are the people that live in a world where “liberals” and “conservatives” at odds aren’t the most important things in the world. They live in a world where Route One construction is much more important than Barbara Boxer. I like those people. They’re real.

For those people, I want to talk to you about healthcare. I’ve been trying to get to the topic of “How do you live without health care?” for about two weeks, then you have a program like today, where people will ambush you with political motives. This is for the people who live but can’t afford heath care, or whose company doesn’t offer it. I want to know what is the best solution.

For the politcal shrubs, first I say, lighten up, you’ll live longer, secondly , I read an article today that mentions where each presidential candidate stands on Health Care. It’s typical, in a way, everyone says pretty much what you’d expect them to say. Your buddy Fred Thompson wants “market driven expansion of affordable coverage” - there’s a suprise.

John McCain wants “drug coverage and expanded insurance for children and the elderly.” Our Biden wants universal coverage ideas,  Obama wants to raise taxes to pay for a $65 billion program.

All of that is all fair and nice, but what do you do right now? What do you do with the mounting medical bills? What does the 24 year old who just got cancer and has over one hundred thousand dollars in bills, what does he do? I’ll tell ya, As “liberal” as it sounds… as “naive” as it is… I truly wish everyone was covered… I wish people weren’t starving and dying to pay for doctors. I wish surgery didn’t cost $60,000… But, all the idealism in the world isn’t going to help anyone.

I have nothing to say but, “good luck” and “keep praying” to the people that struggle with the day to day; To the others, “count your blessings all you have to worry about is house bill ###.”

I love the real world, all the grime and dirt, joy and filth. The world where the petty problems, in-fighting and rumors of some in Sussex County are trumped by the very real struggles of day to day life.