There's a lot I don't like about the bill that was passed tonight. But I'm glad that the U.S. has finally joined every other developed country in the world in offering healthcare to all of it's citizens.

In our system of government, there will never be a perfect piece of legislation, this one included. But getting insurance coverage for every American is a laudable beach head on which to build even better reforms to our healthcare system in future Congresses. I'm confident that like improvements made to Social Security, Medicare and the prescription drug bill since their original enactments, this law will be improved upon as well.

Unlike our political parties, I'm willing to compromise on a bill such as this one, being satisfied to achieve important elements while giving up on some I think are unimportant or unneccessary.

It's too bad that tonight's achievement couldn't have been accomplished without the partisan bitterness that has become so imbedded in our system.

As far as those who bitterly oppose and criticize President Obama, they should at least note that under his leadership and management of the legislative process, this landmark legislation was passed, something that twelve former Presidents were unable to achieve over the better part of a century. One doesn't have to agree with President Obama's politics, but to disdain his leadership ability to achieve his legislative objectives is simply and very obviously incorrect.

Having stated my opinion, I agree with Donna2 that the U.S. is in big trouble. I don't agree that this bill will "push us over the edge" however. The troubles faced by the country--fiscal, domestic and foreign policy--have been caused by elected representatives from both political parties over several decades. The beginnings of corrections to our problems will only result from the election of new, more thoughtful, less partisan representatives who will actually govern with the best interests of the citizens who elected them.