Although 0.5 percent doesn't seem like much of an increase in the wrong direction, the US Census Bureau is reporting this 0.5 percent is what 47 million Americans are living without--health insurance. Moreover, the number of children under the age of 18 has increased 0.8 percent in 2006 generating an unhealthy number of 8.7 million.

And to no surprise, there's been a strong reaction to the report with presidential elections on the horizon; the New York Times has described it as a "presidential gold mine." Though the census report mentions some good things like household median incomes rising and poverty rates slowly declining, President Bush concedes it will be a challenge to reduce the number of Americans living without health insurance. So, what's the answer? Bush suggests Congress make health insurance more affordable rather than bring more people into the government scheme, saying he will veto any bill that warrants such an action.

Feel the same?

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