Every politician in America should immediately lose his or her government-sponsored health insurance and have to fend for themselves in the world of HMOs, co-pays, deductibles and and high medical costs. If that happened, we'd have universal health insurance and health care reform in a heartbeat.

We just received word here that our health insurance costs are going up again. We're lucky here at The Chronicle to even have an employer-sponsored health care program, but the costs are killing us, and crippling the business. If politicians want to do something that will benefit Americans, don't lower taxes --- reform health care and health insurance. Universal health insurance, at minimal costs, would put money into people's pockets which is now going to cover extreme premiums as well as medical costs for those of us with high deductibles. Just in my case alone, that would be an extra $400 per month, half of which I would gladly apply to some sort of government-sponsored health care program. If all Americans participated, the costs of such a program would be very low.

But it ain't gonna happen. Too many lobbyists for the industry, too many timorous congressmen and senators. Massachusetts is working on a plan, and while its goals are laudable -- to decrease the number of uninsured --- it will do nothing to help those of us who are insured but are paying through the nose, to the detriment of our family budgets. The majority of those who have health insurance need relief, in the form of lower premiums and reform of the health care system, which is the only way to reduce the huge chunk of our gross national product that goes toward health care.

Enough rant.

What we're working on for the March 2 edition of The Chronicle:

Chatham's human services survey finds residents have difficulty paying for house, and many older citizens worry about being able to remain in their homes.

The board of selectmen meets Tuesday to revisit the controversial harbormaster's budget, which the board voted to cut last month.

And a new fund-raising effort by the town's PTA will have everyone playing "Chatham-opoly."

In Harwich, we explore the fallout from the announced closing of three grades at the Holy Trinity School, feature a project to renovate the police department's communications center using donated equipment and Cape Tech students, and report on initial efforts to find a new superintendent of schools.

Welcome to this blog. I plan on using it for a variety of purposes.

First off, some promises. I won't rant. I won't publish anything here that I wouldn't publish in the paper under my own name. I may do some reporting here, but it will only be to reinforce information either already presented or that will be presented in the paper.

I have no control over comments posted by others. I will endeavor to review these occasionally and respond if necessary.

Blogs are used for many different things; I see this as an extension of my newspaper work, but in a more personal way. I plan on offering some insights here that don't make it into the paper for one reason or another. I also plan on using the forum to offer broader comment on local and national issues. I may even occasionally write about unrelated matters, my hobbies, my family, my town, my friends, anything I think can provide insight or offer some entertainment or information.

I will also use this blog to give readers of The Chronicle updates on stories and previews of what we are working on for the upcoming edition. With the preliminaries out of the way, I'll do that right now: Here are a few stories you can expect to see in the Feb. 23 Chronicle:

In Chatham, a proposed quasi-public pier in Pleasant Bay faces opposition. Plans are underway to develop a new police facility at the annex property. And the Whales are coming!

In Harwich, Town Administrator Wayne Melville is likely to give his notice to the board of selectmen any day now. Police overtime is under scrutiny, and architectural students work with the community to design an affordable housing project.

Also, an economic summit in Chatham today sees business leaders optimistic for the nation, the state and Cape Cod.

See you soon.