How did we grow this financial mess?

To start off, we're not the only ones! The last I looked 85% of the United States are unable to make ends meet.  That translates to 44 states out of 50 are in the red!

I received my tax bill from the county last month. I was shocked to read that health care costs, for town & county employees, worked out to 57% of the tax revenue for 2010! 

During the early 1990's, Hillary Clinton started working on improving our health care system.  However, our wonderful insurance industry didn't like what they were reading & hearing. So they increased our costs by almost double.

The states sponsor those without insurance.  The monies come out of the general fund. Everyone should be required to have health insurance. Extra state expenses will drop when everyone is covered. Indvidual insurance costs will also decrease.  Right now, they're ridiculously high!

My insurance plan from early 1994 had a cost of $350/month.  Within 7 years that had jumped to $1,700 per month. It's probably double that now! And it doesn't provide the same amount of coverage.  I have to buy a separate vison & dental plan.

Nearly 20 years later, the discussion has been opened again. The insurance companies are increasing their base prices as well... So when the new laws come into play, any negotiation will start with a higher price point.

Senator Joe Leiberman from Connecticut had it right about managing a free-market economy. We should regulate and litigate those who won't follow the laws or take unfair advantage.

Is there a way where the states can buy into the federal plan?  I mean the plan which applies to congressmen, senators, their staff and other federal government employees?