In general, I don't discuss topics like this where I don't thoroughly understand all sides, but I'm worried about a couple of things and wondered if anyone can chime in and share opinions.

For one thing, I am not sure how much this change will truly help us given that it's going to give access for more drugs and more surgery to more people, which I think does more harm than good most of the time, but the system is broken already, and obviously something needs changing.... I'd of course like to see more focus on prevention and holistic care, but I know it won't happen in my lifetime. So, I have mixed feelings in that regard.

As well - I actually work in the health care industry doing medical transcription for private practices, and this was a relatively lucrative thing for me until recent years, since the influx of foreign-based/internet-based services (and even large U.S. based services) have been offering the same work at rates I can't possibly compete with. I have not been able to give myself a cost of living raise in over 13 years as a result, and at this point I consider myself lucky to still be getting my old rate, which I'm afraid could end at any point. I have other friends who work as medical technicians, and the consensus seems to be that while nationalized health "care" may make it more equal and affordable for all americans, it's going to mean lower pay for health care workers across the board because private practice will have more lower priced competition and have to cut back somewhere (the doctors are not going to want cuts in THEIR salary).

There's a lot I don't understand, but right now the issue at my particular front door is what any coming changes means for people who work in the industry like I do. I have never particularly liked my job, never planned that I'd be doing this for a living, and I'd like to make a change, but right now I need it if we don't want to lose our house. I'm kind of worried things are going in this direction in general - lower and lower pay for skilled and necessary jobs.

Sorry if this sounds a bit naive... I'm still trying to understand it. Am I missing something, or should I be re-training for a new career if I don't want to work for 9 bucks an hour?