My dogs like to dig in and eat things that I find offensive. Well apparently our congress does to. I have recently learned that what is being called "Obamacare" could just as well be called "Romneycare". A republican health care proposal (became law in Massachusetts) was dug up by the democrats and is now the national healthcare plan. Now that the bill is passed it seems that the democrats can rub the republicans face with there own...well we don' t need to go there. But here we are.
You could say the democrats plagiarized the healthcare plan adopted in Massachusetts by republican Governor Mitt Romney, drafted by Senator John Chafee-a republican who in turn modeled after one drafted by the Heritage Foundation (a conservative think tank). Much as the republicans deny, this is as much their legacy as the democrats. Are you happy with this "new" health care policy? I am not. But our present system is a failure to millions. It seems we have fools in government out simply to cover their own backs. To bow to the demands of their own parties that are on turn bowing to the demands of lobby groups. Who wins? Seems pretty obvious-the insurance industry-big business. Ultimately who do we blame? Look in a mirror. We elected those in congress and in the white house. But who do we oust? Be thinking about this come the next election. Forget about party lines, they have not done us well to this point, look closely at each candidate and what and who they represent. Be thinking about how we can reduce the power that these big businesses and lobby groups have over the political process.
I ask you a more general question though. Is healthcare a right or a privilege? Reflecting on this question I compare to other "rights" that we have agreed in the past. For example the right to education-public schools are not just for poor or US citizens but to all. US Mail is provided to nearly everyone (if you have an address or can afford a PO Box). Police, firefighters, public libraries all are potentially available to everyone. You could argue that these are not available to everyone in America and I would agree-we could do better with each one, but at least there is attempts to avail these institutions to everyone. Why isn't healthcare? Why do we even think that the word or concept of "insurance" needs to be applied to the idea of healthcare. I do not agree that open emergency rooms are an appropriate way to treat those that are without other forms of healthcare support. Besides we pay those bills anyway through even higher healthcare costs. I believe healthcare is a right and should be available to everyone. Just as education gives people more opportunities to shape there future-to get jobs, providing healthcare to everyone will give people more opportunities to focus on jobs. By allowing people to find jobs they want to work they will be healthier and will better contribute to the community and to the tax rolls.
Details of this new healthcare plan will be coming forward and activating over the next four years. Lets stop moaning and groaning to each other and make the most of it. It is now the rule of the land. At least those that could not afford healthcare, or were excluded from it have an opportunity for hope again. I believe that a community that stops caring for those who have lost hope, those who have fallen through the cracks, those who are unable to provide for themselves stops being a community.
