Let's reflect

View from MGM's brand new casino complex in Washington D.C.  It's grandiose, for sure (à la Trump?) but a bit depressing overall (à la Trump?): such a complex machinery, with shinny lights and chrome, all to strip people of their money. And they sit there, like zombies, at tables and in front of slot machines... 

In the meantime, and while we're reflecting in the land of the crazies, the Senate voted 51 to 48 and the House 227-198:
1. To end coverage for preexisting conditions, veterans benefits, and aid to rural hospitals.
2. To remove discrimination protection for women in healthcare.
3. Against the provision allowing children to remain on their parent's insurance till the age of 26.
4. To cut off funding for the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
5. Against ACA contraceptive coverage and maternity care provision.
6. To direct committees to send budget legislation to defund and repeal the Affordable Care Act.
For those who get health insurance through work, no pre-existing conditions (and apparently pregnancy qualifies as a pre-existing condition...) Lifetime caps for coverage are back for everyone.
Real and disastrous actions are being taken that will affect more than just the 20-30 million people who will lose their health care coverage and the 3 million people who will lose their jobs.
Despite their assertions of this being an action to "repeal and replace," no viable alternative plan has been proposed. As of this moment, no replacement exists. 


This is all very, very depressing.