I despise politics -- political or office or otherwise. First I don't really understand much of it and second I just don't see why people have to act like high school all the time.

It's only been recently that I paid much attention to the presidential election. I remember voting in my first presidential election; I was a senior in college and voting by absentee ballot. I felt it was my civic duty to vote, but I couldn't figure out what the real issues were because there was so much mud slinging. The guy I voted for won, but I remember thinking "He hasn't done such a bad job the last four years, so he's probably the lesser of the two evils." Yes, that's seriously what I based my vote on.

So all that to say that I'm not paying much attention to the health-care reform debate that's been going on for the last, well, forever I guess. Even though I work in a field where health-care is a hot topic and my own life is plagued by a chronic illness, you'd think I'd pay more attention. But seriously, just *one* of the like *three* bills being tossed around lately is more than 1,000 pages. And is in legal speak. Who can seriously read all that and make sense of it?

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I don't really know where I stand on health-care reform. I know I don't want to lose my health insurance. I don't think someone should be forced to buy health insurance if they don't want it. I think it would be great if all employers offered health insurance, but I'm not sure that penalizing those that don't is such a great idea. From what I understand of the European and Canadian versions of universal health care, I think it's a bad idea.

I know politicians are trying to find a way to please everyone, but why can't it be more about only finding affordable health care for those who need it and want it? That's where the real need is, right? Making sure that people who need and want health care can afford it.

Someone correct me?