I’m sick (pun intended) of the healthcare debate in this country.

Let me make things very simple for everyone: we need reform. There’s millions of uninsured people and children in this country, and it’s absolutely inexcusable that a country that calls itself the most powerful on the planet can’t take care of its citizens with free basic medical care. Yes, I know there’s people that would abuse it, but the cost in lives overrules that complaint.

The Republicans and the right-wing pundits blast any attempt at reform as “socialized medicine,” and lately, they’ve sunk to the new low of having their followers disrupt town hall discussions with violent protests. I’m all for peaceful protests, and even civil disobedience, but this is nothing but organized chaos along the lines of the Fox News Tea Parties. You’ve got misinformed and ignorant Americans, driven by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, shouting down any opposition to their views. I’m confident that most of these Republicans, pundits, and their listeners don’t even know what the word “socialized” means. Nor do they have any trouble with our other socialized programs, such as police departments, fire departments, or libraries. Their opposition to healthcare reform boils down to one thing, and one thing only: money.

There’s a lot of money to be made in the medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries, and any publicly-funded healthcare program would cut into the bottom line. In other words, the Republican opposition to healthcare reform is nothing but putting profits over human lives. Standard operating procedure for the right wing, I’m afraid.