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Our lawmakers attempting to force health insurance reform are fond of relating stories of their constituents who have suffered because of our current system. They are sad and unfortunate tales, which point out the need for health care reform in America. They are about truly unlucky citizens who through no fault of their own have lost loved ones, property and financial security. Serious medical problems are devastating for the well insured and well to do, so one can only imagine facing such issues unemployed and/or uninsured. As a compassionate American, I want to help take care of the less fortunate among us, and I think we must do what is necessary within reason. However before we all start writing out our tax checks, it might be beneficial to talk about a few stories you will never hear from proponents of this legislation.
I want to tell you about John an uninsured auto mechanic from Helena Montana. John is unemployed because his lifelong smoking has caused debilitating emphysema. He can't walk across the room, much less put in a full day of work. He can't get insurance because he has had the emphysema for years, and unfortunately the disease won't kill him quick, instead allowing him to linger on, requiring expensive treatment for some time to come. News articles, friends, family and doctors told him to stop smoking for his health. He just never did.
I want to mention Janice from Portland Oregon. Janice loves food. She loves it more than life. At 385 lbs. she suffers from coronary artery disease and diabetes. Every doctor she has seen since she was 21 has told her to lose weight or suffer the consequences. Janice has been rejected by 15 insurance companies, so she just doesn't go to the doctor anymore. Clearly she can't afford to pay for her own medical care which depresses her so much, she just eats more.
Lets talk about Juan. Juan is an illegal immigrant who came across the border ten years ago from Mexico. He lives with his wife, three children, mother, father and mother-in-law in Yakima Washington. His employer pays him less than minimum wage, and since he is illegal, health insurance is out of the question, and no one in his family receives regular medical care.
These are all the kinds of people you will be subsidizing through a public option health insurance program. If you have no problem with that, and don't mind supporting the lousy choices of millions of uninsured Americans, fine. I have nothing more to say and you may as well stop wasting time here and go there . If however, you are like me and your sense of what is fair precludes you from paying your hard earned money to take care of people who don't want to take care of themselves, then join with us. Engage in the debate. Question the answers.
I don't want to sound cold here, but a tax funded health insurance system as proposed, will tap hardworking American citizens to cover the care of illegal, irresponsible or careless people, and that is not right on any level. Let's talk about caring for the most at-risk Americans among us, but let's not gut a system that works for 80% of us just to provide care to only about 10% of the population. That to my way of thinking is a bad cost/benefit equation. After seeing the TARP, the stimulus package, bailouts of Detroit and Wall Street, Cap and Trade legislation and the CARS program, it isn't hard to imagine the consequences of yet more ill-advised, stunningly expensive, rushed through legislation. Let your lawmakers know how you feel and remind them that you will turn out in unprecedented numbers to vote in November.
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