I was reading some LDS blogs earlier this week and happened upon this cryptic post about how “Someone else shouldnt decide if I can write a book, and which course I should pursue in the process. […] When our founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776, they gave me that right.” and “Every year the government takes a few more choices away from me, and force me down a path that I dont want to go, but I still think this is the best country in the entire world,” — ending with a stirring rendition of “God Bless America.” Naturally, this left me going “What on Earth is she talking about…?”

And then it hit me: that health care reform bill must have passed!

I’m sorry I haven’t been following this issue closely. I hate to take an attitude of “I live in Europe so I’ve got mine — good luck to the rest of y’all” but I have to admit that I’ve kind of tuned out this whole debate ever since it turned into a total circus. I commend those of you who’ve had the perseverance to follow this issue to the end. Here’s what the folks of Outer Blogness and beyond are saying about it:

Some feel that in America today there’s just too much of this representative-government-passing-laws-some-people-don’t-like, so the forces of “liberty” have decided to improve on the democratic process by throwing rocks through people’s windows and threatening legislators with violence.

Dale is unimpressed by tropes like the “tearful eulogy for the America We Loved,” but is outraged by “the suggestion that this Act confers benefits on people who unlike the speaker have not earned them,” and Mr. Hackman has some mathematical remarks about the idea that “the working poor are not to be cut any slack because, even though they are working, they obviously have been making poor choices in life… which is why they are poor.” The Urban Koda also does a little math to put health care in perspective. Anachronologist argues we still have a long way to go and proposes that we put our HCR predictions in a time capsule.

Meanwhile, if (like me) you’re wondering precisely what it was that passed, Djinn points us towards an informative graphic! (Then points out the bad news…)

And speaking of the end of the world, Andee has questions about a prank to convince Christians they’ve been “left behind.”

On to discussions! Curmudgeon wants to debate the question “Are we born with God?” — coincidentally the same question Christopher Smith wrote about last week! You guys should totally get together and discuss this. Awakening has a theological puzzle about how God’s physical body affects His omnipotence. And Jon has suggested a game of critiquing the worst arguments for atheism.

And “Sunday in Outer Blogness” wouldn’t be complete without stories about Mormonism! Reina got her “Dodge Letter” — and had an unexpected reaction! Via reddit, another interesting gay Mormon story. Mason responds to the question “Did you pray with full intent?”

Finally, following up on our discussion of how Mormon females are encouraged (or not) to follow their dreams, Jana recounts her path to technology. And G recounts a short memory that basically nails what it was like…