Everyone deserves access to quality health care.
Unfortunately, while we all deserve access to quality health care, not everyone receives it. Despite what opponents say, President Barack Obama and his administration want to give everyone a chance to live a healthy life. The Health Care Reform Act will do just that.
It’s imperative that people focus on the actual plan that is being presented rather than opposing something that they don’t fully understand. The health care initiative is a public option plan. This means that it is up to an individual to decide if they want to purchase the plan. While a person is certainly entitled to decline the offer, is it fair to not present that same option to someone who might accept it? I don’t think so, but that’s exactly what will happen if members of Congress don’t pass this bill upon their return to session next month.
Currently there are an estimated 50 million uninsured Americans. Of those 50 million people, imagine how many had to file bankruptcy because they couldn’t afford their medical bills. Also consider what may happen to those 50 million people who let small illnesses become larger, perhaps life-threatening illnesses – all because they couldn’t go to a doctor.
Health care costs have doubled within the past 10 years. If things continue as they are, costs will continue to surge by 2019…this could be disastrous for most Americans and ultimately impact the already struggling economy because one’s take-home pay will have drastically decreased.
For the past couple of weeks we’ve seen constant coverage of public forums and town hall meetings where opponents of the plan blatantly reject any semblance of health care reform. I strongly believe that these individuals have been coerced to behave in such a fashion. Astroturf campaigns, or special interest groups that give the impression of an actual grassroots mobilization, aren’t new to this country. They are, however, a major player in the current health care reform game.
Perhaps the main reason I’m convinced the “health care reform opponents” at these various town hall meetings actually represent interest groups is because of the lack of discussion. Rather than communicating in an effective manner by listening and then speaking, these people are behaving in incredibly disruptive manners and acting uncivil. Even the most divisive person can sit at a table and effectively express their views and concerns without yelling and making crazy propositions.
What these interest groups are doing with their planted people is painting an unfair and unrealistic picture of what Obama’s health care reform act will really do. In doing so, people are becoming unnecessarily frightened. Groups such as FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and Conservatives for Patients’ Rights are playing a dirty game with their hired help that show up at these public forums…don’t be fooled into believing the hype.
The strong opposition from conservatives is less about Obama’s plan and more about Obama the man – they just don’t like him, nor do they want him to accomplish anything; so instead they attack anything that he supports and as with this health care debate, they attack viciously.
Quality health care is something that we all should be able to access. One of the great things about Obama’s plan is that everyone would receive health care – even people with pre-existing conditions. This means that senior citizens, a child with autism, or even a person with cancer will have access to treatment regardless of anything else.
While many of you reading this editorial may be blessed to have health insurance, look beyond yourself and your circle of friends when debating this topic. Think of the struggling single mother who limits the time she can spend with her children because she has to work three jobs just to afford health insurance. Consider the young man, fresh out of college and looking for his first professional job, yet prays everyday that nothing serious goes wrong with his health because he’s too old to be on his parents’ insurance and can’t afford his own. Remind yourself of the recently fired woman who is battling a degenerative disease, yet won’t be able to make next month’s doctor’s appointment.
These three examples are actually real people with real situations. At any given time it could be any one of us. Do your part and spread the positive word about the Health Care Reform Act.
