Sucks to be your brother in law.
Why he should become a burden on the rest of us is beyond me. And what any of it has to do with healthcare reform is also beyond me. If you think Obama's proposals would help him one bit then you are sorely mistaken.
See where I think the healthcare debate fails and why I make an exception for it is because ITS DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES!
First, no one honestly chooses to use healthcare. Basically they get SICK or INJURED!
Second, a sickness or esp an injury can put you out of work. If you are out of work you lose you medical insurance. Its crap!
Third, its fundamentally different from every other necessary expense. You car breaks down you can get it fixed and figure out expenses because you can still work. With food and clothes you can budget because you can still work. With medical expenses you don't choose them, they choose you. In most cases you can't say maybe next year, you have to have them now! If one can't see the fundamental difference that healthcare is from all other services then you need to leave the discussion!
Fourth, medical insurance is great for the insurer when your health, but when you are sick or injured it becomes a liability and they do everything to get rid of you: (1) Drop you from their coverage, (2) jack up the rates, (3) put on riders (if your new to the program), (4) Let the employer know that Jerky over their is raising your rates why not fire him or (5) Jerk around with payments and not pay for things!
There are a lot of Spending I disagree with:
(1) Government Pensions - You do know that if the States cut out pension plans (like 99% of private industries have) then most States, even nowadays, would have a balanced budget! Government and schools need to do what private business has done - go to individual retirement instruments like 401(k) plans.
(2) Welfare - it is way to widely used. If your on drugs why should you get it.
(3) The various and meaningless government agencies. There probably 10,000 agencies that could be cut and America wouldn't see any changes.
(4) Pork/Earmarks - It should be illegal!
(5) The War on Drugs - Sorry, but its expense and in my opinion unnecessary.