Oh, Sweet Relief

Oh sweet relief. Thank you Democrats for voting yes on health care reform, for not allowing the process to continue stalling, for allowing us uninsured Americans to stop holding our breath.

I am weary of political battles. My head aches at discussions of “what this means for November elections.” I prefer substance to posturing and wish I heard more about bipartisan compromise instead of single-party control. And in the past year, as I felt more and more vulnerable to the struggles of this country, I have felt more and more frustrated by a government that couldn’t seem to move forward.

But then I think about this job I applied for recently. I sent in an application. A month later I got a call for an interview. Three weeks later I e-mailed the company, asking about the status of their decision. The e-mail I received was a one-line response that said, “HR processes grind slowly…Thank you for reminding me to push this one a bit.” I never heard back. In my head, I picture gears barely chugging along, with my application slowly reaching the top of the pile. But in reality, I probably didn’t get the job.

At times, I thought this healthcare business would just fade away. That a new crisis would come along and our government, with its amazing ability to change the subject, would simply move on and never let us know the fate of our health and healthcare. But I have been patient. And the momentum has stayed constant. The Democratic push has endured, and proven big changes can come to those who wait.

The bill is not everything I had hoped for. And if you are a feminist and pro-choice, you should go make a donation to Planned Parenthood. The process grinds slowly, but at least it grinds.