I think that’s what it, healthcare reform, boils down to…Faith or Fear?
After 8 years of George W Bush, I think a lot of people are fearful of government. I think it’s easy to sit back and say that with government in charge, we, the people, get screwed…just look at Social Security and Medi-Care/Caid.
FDR created the Social Security Act as part of the New Deal and it was meant as a means to limit the dangers of Modern American Life, including old age, poverty, unemployment, and burdens of widows and fatherless children. Remember, that at the time SSA was created, women and minorites were excluded from old age pensions and unemployment insurance!
Up until it dawned on goverment, that Social Security was going to run out once all the Baby Boomers hit retirement age, Social Security was a “given”. I think the population looked at SS as their retirement plan…until they were told not to count on it. That’s when government became the “bad guy”, and was blamed with screwing up Social Security…talk about everyone turning on a person.
Yep, the American public can be a very fair weather friend.
Now, I have several friends who are currently uninsured. They either can’t get medical insurance because it is too expensive and they can’t afford it, or, they get denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions. If these friends go to Emergency (where they can not be turned away), and get admitted, they can’t pay their bill so the hospital writes it off and raises their rates to cover their write-offs, which causes the insurance companies to raise their premiums, it’s a vicious circle. This healthcare plan is a way for those friends to have coverage they otherwise couldn’t get.
Will there be people who work the system and find loopholes, sure, but that would happen regardless of this law or any other. You won’t ever be able to stop those people who would rather cheat the system than actually be an active member of society.
I am choosing to have faith that the healthcare reform bill that was signed into law yesterday will have the desired effect. If it doesn’t than I will be first in line to start lobbying congress to make changes…but I’m open to giving it a chance.
All the Hate Speech that is going on is shocking to me! Where did our humanity and civility go? Yes, we have Freedom of Speech, but that doesn’t include yelling “Fire” in a crowded auditorium. Calling for people to hurt others over this bill is absolutely shameful, and shouldn’t fall under the purview of the First Amendment. It’s the behaviour of these hate mongers, more than anything, makes me ashamed and sad.
Just my humble opinion.
Filed under: Observations
Well said!