Not posting on politics today – a pleasant change.

Instead…I had a wonderful ride from Lake View to work in Hyde Park this morning.  Nice and cool, a NE tail wind, waves crashing over the bike path at some spots, wonderful dark puffy clouds racing quickly across the heavens with the sun peeking out from time to time, and my fastest time southward this year – 50 minutes.

It was the kind of morning that I wish I had a helmet cam to record this beauty.  The path was not as busy as usual for a summer day, although there was no threat of rain.  The sun was mostly hiding on the north side of town, but I could see it shining on the water in some places out in the lake.  Once I passed McCormick Place it started to show itself more regularly as the clouds made way for its assent into the sky.

The Lake was in a moderate rage, kind of purple and green colored, with wave after wave crashing shoreward.  No swimmers or boats out this morning.  Hardly any dog walkers either.  I only saw one fisherman at the opening to Burnham Harbor.  The beaches were being groomed on the North Side, but the job had already been completed by the time I reached the new 31^st Street Harbor.  It always gives such a fresh inviting look after the previous day’s activities.

I could see the steel mill smoke stacks in Indiana and on the far south side easily and early in the cold, crisp air.  Of course the best spot to see is from the 47^th Street “hill”, but I also saw them when crossing the Chicago River underneath Lake Shore Drive.

I kept pushing and pushing.  Pedaled in higher, harder gears.  And my friend the wind made it all possible.  I didn’t stop for my usual water break just past the museum campus on the hill by Soldier Field – just kept going.  I didn’t need to look at my watch to know this was going to be a fast day.  Pushed past the 31^st Street Harbor, past the 47^th Street hill, past Promontory Point, past the man selling his bananas and apples on 57^th Street  in front of the Museum of Science and Industry, and then across Stony Island, up 59^th Street, cross the Midway Plaisance where Blackstone would cross, over Dorchester, and then at work.  Hooray I made it.

And now, dear friends, please know that I will ride home into the wind this evening, and I will be in lower gears, going slower, and it will take me much longer than 50 minutes to make the return journey.  But it will still be beautiful and I will still feel lucky to be able to make this ride many times.

Take care.

Here we go again.  What started out as a plan from the Obama Administration to cover all of our citizens with health care has been subverted again.

As you may know, about 25% of our population is not covered by health insurance and another 25% is under covered.  This is in the “leading” country in the world.  Check the statistics yourself – we are an embarrassment compared to the other industrialized countries.  Infant mortality, health care for the elderly etc., etc.. – it all lags behind.

When President Obama came into office, he proposed to fix this large matter.  However, it will be costly and there were many groups opposed – primarily our friends the Republicans.  Instead of working together to implement a program over time that meets our needs, the Republicans would rather fight the whole issue and leave those who are uncovered in the same perilous situation. 

But, as you probably already know, those who are uncovered or under covered do get sick (more frequently and more seriously because they do not have any preventive care or regular checkups.), and therefore someone has to pay the cost of this care.  It isn’t free for the docs and hospitals to provide.  The rest of us and our insurance plans, pay for these costs. 

A well thought out plan could meet our needs – a healthier population that help to keep this country strong – justice in the delivery of services in this country.  Not easy – some sacrifices necessary – would take a phase in period - everyone must be a part of the plan to keep the cost per person reasonable.

But now the nation’s businesses get a year deferment.  And the most recent transgression: our wonderful leaders in Congress – both parties, mind you – have asked for an exception for all the members of Congress and their staffers – about 10,000 strong – and they will remain under their very generous federal health insurance plan with its subsidies.  President Obama bowed to the complaints on Capitol Hill and agreed.  They should be under the exact plan that the rest of the country is under, with no special subsidies.

What an embarrassment!  But the Congress certainly isn’t embarrassed. They live in a different world and are a privileged class.  They certainly won’t talk about this when they go home for the late summer break.  We look foolish to the rest of the world, again.  And we are creating a class system in this country – the haves and have not’s.

Think about it.  Talk to your congress members.  We need an equitable plan, not more of the same with the lack of health care and health insurance.

Take care.