I remember how when the tragedy of 9/11 happened I was deeply saddened for the innocent lives lost that day and frightened that our way of life in America was going to be changed forever.  While I was heartened to see America's patriotism soar and people banding together I was concerned about the battle drums that were being beaten.

There was this duality to the feeling across America.  On one end you had this resurgence in American pride which I think had not been lost as so much a bit forgotten.  Of course, most of us feel blessed to be born or live in America but it probably had not been so pronounced since ironically the "Made In The USA" campaign during the 1980's. 

Yet intermixed with this newfound sense of unity and brotherhood was a call for blood, vengeance and and a move to act before another such attack could happen again.  This was understandable as we afraid for our future and the safety of our children.   However, the enemy was elusive and was not a single target like wars history had known before.  As we all know, Iraq somehow became the face of 9/11 even though most of us knew there was no direct connection. 

The invasion of Iraq has cost us dearly both financially and in reputation.  I honestly believe that this was the true motive of Al Qaeda all along but what is done is done.

However, there is another enemy what is also within our midst.  It is probably the most stealthy enemy that any country has ever faced.  It wants us to lead us without knowing we are following.  It wants to run our country while we are too distracted by financial worries, high cost of living, credit card debt and political partisanship.  This enemy wants a one world organization that to determine where it funds come from and where they go into without any input from the nations that host them.  This enemy is the Corporation.

We have let corporations run out the unions that so many Americans fought so hard to achieve.  The unions that brought safety and fairness for American workers were labeled as only corrupt and useless by corporations. 

We have let corporations become so powerful that they have basically castrated the concept of small business in America which once was the lifeblood of our country,  We no longer know where our food comes from, we no longer know if we can trust the news we hear, we no longer know if the toys we give our children or the cars we drive are safe.

Now so many Americans are allowing the very lives of themselves and their children and their healthy be controlled by corporations.  Many of us like to think that we are paying for a service, especially something as costly as healthcare insurance, that when we need that service it will be there for us.  Well for many Americans who are just like you and me the healthcare that they have paid for has not been there for them when they needed it the most.  We are not talking about cosmetic surgery or even abortion.  We are talking about the life and death decisions of men, women and children where a faceless corporation makes those decisions.

Many of us find it hard to trust the government.  That is understandable.  However, we need to remember that the government is run by all of us.  Corporations are not.  We already spend so much money in government but is the money being used the right way?  Yes, we need to protect our American lives from foreign and domestic attack but do we not also need to protect American lives from being lost to diseases and conditions that could have been prevented? 

I think we all realize that single payer Insurance is not want America wants even though it probably is the most practical in terms of distributing risk and lowering cost.  However, should we not make sure that our government does ensure that greedy corporations are prohibited from dropping us when we get sick, that our children will be covered until they can afford coverage themselves and that if you lose your job (which is a reality we all know about) that you have a way to protect your family?

Let us remember the unity we had after 9/11 and realize that lives are being lost every year to lack of healthcare.  Let us stand up to corporations and say that we can control their destiny just as much as they can control ours.  Let us remember that the people that are losing their savings and going bankrupt as a result of unfair healthcare practices our are friends and neighbors and most importantly our fellow Americans.  Let us take control of healthcare today and then let our government know what works and does not work.  If we do not start somewhere we will never succeed.