In this last blog post for the class, discussing a public issue of great importance, I wish to bring health care reform/universal to the table.
Over the past 20 years, since the Clinton administration, this has been somewhat of a fiery topic. In 1994, Hilary Clinton crafted a health care plan and presented it to Congress and the health care industry, only to be completely slaughtered for a major political lose. 15 years later, President Obama worked throughout his first two years in office to get health care reform passed. As opposed to crafting a bill for presenting, he went an opposite route by approaching Congress and the industry, working WITH them to tailor an applicable bill. After months of hard work and influencing an electorate, the act was passed by Congress.
Despite this reform, the question still lingers: should the US resort to a universal health care system?
I say yes, looking at the issue from a variety of contexts:
1. Taxes
What are we spending our taxes on to begin with? An education program that doesn’t work, courtesy of George W Bush (No Child Left Behind), a war that wasted billions of dollars in Iraq (also courtesy of Mr. Bush). As a result of health care reform, we will be taxed for funding a health care system to provide for the country.
Personally, I’d rather spend my tax dollars on funding this imitative, to contribute and help my fellow American receive health care (as opposed to other wasteful spending). These taxes go to a good cause, for almost everyone's well being (physically).
2. Keeps Insurance Companies/big business in-check
Effective September 23, 2010, the new act enacted almost a dozen restrictions of the health insurance industry, banning them from abuses of power (with more restrictions to take effect over the next several years). Many of these include restrictions for dropping a sick patient, charging co-payments/charges for patients in more advanced stages of illness, etc.
Here is even more info on what the new act means for insurance (from AARP): http://www.aarp.org/health/health-care-reform/info-08-2010/hcr_explained.html
3. Filling A Void
That number is absolutely absurd. We are talking about people and their health, who stand no chance when big insurance CEO's are controlling their lives. You have the put the health back into the people for a vibrant nation.
With a more transparent, accessible health care system, there will be an advanced database of diagnosis and treatment for all patient cases in the country. Additionally, a doctor can focus more on practicing medicine and helping people rather than work for insurance companies.
Many would argue that the thought is socialist, etc. My response is - so I guess letting people die is capitalism?
There is a humanity/morale factor, here. We are not asking people to make the same wage for a living. We are talking about health; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No insurance company should have the right to deny a person's will to live.
