How bad off are we, exactly?

The other side of the aisle traffics in misery and gloom, and sells this fantasy as a way to push the need for "change" and "hope". IF ONLY these gullible people understood what this change really means!
I'm a retired teacher, and have long bore witness to too many students taking advantage of free and reduced lunch programs, while driving a better vehicle than mine, carrying a better cell phone or Smartphone than mine, and wearing more expensive clothes than mine. Let me be clear: I understand that there are those who legitimately qualify for these programs. I would guess about 25% of them, perhaps.
My father volunteers for two different food banks, and routinely carries bags of food out to brand new vehicles.
You're right - it is not about being "bad off". It IS about priorities, choices and attitudes. It is not racial; it is cultural in a broad way. Our idea of "bad off" and "suffering a weak economy" still includs long lines at Starbucks, full parking lots at restaurants, and busy festivals like Oktoberfest. Oh, and people willing to donate $150 MILLION to the Obama campaign. I wrote about that in my blog yesterday.
You have raised very interesting questions - and definitely relevant to the health insurance topic. Good work!

-- except for the very few with physical and/or mental disabilities -- is a behavioral disorder.

And healthcare is NOT a right. Liberty is an unalienable right. Requiring a doctor and/or hospital to provide free healthcare can only be achieved by usurping their liberty and property. Requiring Cindy and I to pay for someone else's healthcare usurps our liberty and property.