Tackling Sneezing... and Each Other.

So... I know you've all been patiently waiting for me to return to rambling about something more in the political argument segment (yes, that was sarcasm) so I'm going to do it... as cliche as it is, I'm going to talk about health care reform. I can't really begin to cover all the issues tied into this, otherwise you'd be reading a novel- and then you really wouldn't care- so forgive me for some points left out.
I have to say, I can't understand why ANYONE would be against providing adequate health care to every citizen in the country. I don't really care what political position you hold, or what your beliefs are. There's no reason to NOT support promoting life and health.

Now on to the arguments I've seen all over facebook the last few days...

This is a form of socialism/threat to "freedom"  Okay so I'm going to try to not be irate when considering this perspective. First of all, this is far from a socialist state... I have to wonder if anyone that makes this statement even knows what socialism is. Didn't the McCarthy Era end years ago? I mean really people, this is all you have to scream every time anyone makes a step toward social reform?

 In terms of a threat to freedom- remember the Patriot Act? Now that is an extreme threat to freedom in so many ways yet oddly enough, the people against health care reform are the ones that didn't even notice it passed. Nor did they seem to mind that in general, the previous administration, alloted power to the president to ignore congress and the judicial branch entirely (based on the notion of "unitary government" or at least, Bush's interpretation of such) as the president sees fit. This sounds more like a dictatorship (never mind socialism) than anything having to do with health care reform. The government still doesn't control the economy. That's a key part of socialism. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that the corporations control the government. Now that, should scare you all... I know it scares the hell out of me on a daily basis.

This is handing out benefits to the "lazy": I am not lazy. I have worked since I was 14 years old. I have paid medical bills that have exceeded my ability to pay, even having had some sent to collections and later paying them off with whatever extra cash I had. I work very hard but that doesn't mean I can afford, as a single person, to pay $300/month to insure myself.  Not to mention that although I pay in full to see a doctor if I have the flu, or pay in full to go to the dentist, I am generally treated sub par. I once asked a dentist, upon visiting for a cracked tooth, if she thought I would need my wisdom teeth out soon. Her response was," What do you want me to look at, you don't have insurance." I'm educated, I've been to college. I'm paying for that now. I pay rent, I pay for a vehicle, I pay taxes, I pay social security, I pay for my own food, I pay for utilities, I clothe myself... This means that even though I am a productive and contributing member in our nation, I simply don't make enough to meet these costs plus insurance. I don't mind paying taxes toward health care, but I simply cannot afford to spend even 25% of my wages to have insurance. Does that make me lazy? I am still the working class, however low on the spectrum I am compared to the CEOs of banks and Wall St. firms that just stole billions, who ironically, I am expected to help bail out with my menial (a comparative statement) pay while they complain about this bill.  Regardless as to income, we ALL deserve an equal opportunity to see a doctor when ill.

This isn't a game or a competition between classes: it's simply the right thing to do.This isn't a hand out to me. It's a thank you. It actually makes me proud for the fist time in years that our nation actually recognizes it has citizens instead of simply lofty goals for consumption of resources globally.

Now, lets get to the real point here: people think the term "social welfare" means "welfare" in terms of medicaid and food stamps. They think it refers to socialist food stamps (which may be my next band name as of this second.) Social welfare actually refers to the well-being of the social body. In order to have a productive and loyal social body (which is necessary to maintain strength as a nation) a state must ensure that body's well-being. I can say I full-heartedly agree that our current "welfare" system is seriously flawed and I can honestly say I support drug testing and checking in on persons that collect medicaid and food stamps for over a year to see if they've applied for jobs or have attempted to get an education or skill through the various programs offered to help these people get on their feet. I can't tell you the number of times someone has offered to sell me their food stamps with a case of beer in their hand.  Yes, that, is a wild abuse of federal money: unchecked recipients of full-on benefits paid for by you and yours truly. The problem is... the current welfare system hasn't been reformed in YEARS, it isn't up to snuff. Social welfare programs that might aim to reform this are constantly cut from the federal budget in lieu of military spending (or saving the economy...) and those programs would also be targeting education and other programs that might curb this behavior. Those programs also mean a "middle-step" program for the working class that can't afford medical coverage. I mean think about it: I work full time and can't afford medical benefits. If I were collecting food stamps and medical benefits and went to work only to find I can now afford food but no doctor... why would I work? So while I understand the frustration with "welfare" as we know it... That is not what anyone is talking about with health care reform. What health care reform is about is our future. Our social body and our well-being as individuals so we can be as strong a population as possible. (Whether or not the US being a strong state again is something I really have conflicting ideas about for the sake of this aspect of the argument... I support it.) Stop calling me and all the other working class people who can't afford medical coverage lazy: we can all call ourselves lazy and selfish for not having addressed this 20 years ago.
* To clarify: I am not talking about someone temporarily collecting welfare benefits to get on their feet. Nor am I talking about the disabled. I am supportive of a state helping its citizens realize their potential and I am supportive of a nation state taking care of it's less advantaged. Actually, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which the US signed), Article 25, a state has the responsibility to provide adequate health care to it's citizens. This means ALL of them. (I urge you all to read that Declaration, you'd be amazed at exactly how many articles the US is violating: Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

This is an economic disaster in the making The free market. Let's consider some of the basics of such, in particular the fact that competitive pricing drives prices down. Now, a public option will in fact force large insurance carriers to offer competitive pricing to it's customers. Is this a bad thing? It may even allow for smaller start ups to begin and therefore produce more jobs. I understand that businesses are afraid of being "forced" to help cover the cost of insuring employees. I just don't understand why to the fullest extent: A healthy employee is a happier and more productive being. More detail in next segment...

Great, wait times will be longer at the doctor Have they ever been short?! I also can't believe the complete selfishness in this commentary. So, you're saying you'd rather see a child die because their parents couldn't afford to take them to the doctor than wait for your annual check up appointment? I understand the issue with the plan perhaps over-booking doctors/nurses/medical personnel. It's my feeling that along with this, the government should be taking some of the money we spend sending our countrypersons overseas to fight in the name of... I'm not sure what... in a completely futile war, should be spent paying for medical personnel educations (jobs for educators) as well as to help ensure they have the proper equipment and tools to complete their jobs (jobs for medical equipment sales._ This means bringing home the troops, ending the wars and focusing on our state, and our citizens instead of worrying about what other states are doing. *Let me insert here that I have NOTHING against our troops so let me explain before you start yelling at me for being "unpatriotic": I believe the wars shouldn't have been fought to begin with. I commend the courage and efforts of our brothers and sisters that help defend our nation. What I don't commend is a government that goes to war senselessly and thinks so little of human rights- including our soldiers': don't forget their treatment upon returning home by good old Uncle Sam. It also means focusing on creation of facilities (jobs in construction.) It also means targeting the scams that pharmaceutical companies have been pulling for years via over-charging and holding onto valuable medicines. I realize this is a lot to ask but doesn't it piss you off at all that antibiotics cost so damn much? What about cancer drugs? I mean we're talking about life and death in many cases all because someone "owns" the rights to a drug and can control the price. This is a huge part of the problem.
Oh and I'd like to see ERs stop charging people $100 for motrin. Bastards.

The problem here is we've made the field of medicine so commercial, at least in terms of pharmaceuticals and medications... it has lost it's roots: helping the ill and saving lives. This is an important part of reform. I really can't think of how ANYONE besides a pharmaceutical corporation could disagree, regardless as to your stance on politics or social welfare in general.   *Let me state here I am not talking about all of the doctors and nurses that bust their arses to help people every day. I'm talking about the cost of their educations, malpractice insurance, and cost of operation- all of which are largely controlled by much more powerful sources/corporations. I am also hyper-aware of the commercialization of education and believe me, I know the cost hurts.

All the screaming of racial slurs and homophobic statements.  I can't say anything about this. The people that do this speak for themselves as uneducated fools. I really think this clinging to one's self never works... I mean maybe it makes you feel like part of the group for a while. In the end, he who stands alone is the first to fall.

In the end, I have to say, I think this was a long time coming. I believe that this country has waited far too long on this issue. I do not think the current bill is perfect. I do not think it will solve everything. I do think it opens to door to more discussion and more reform. I think it's a start on a very long road of the recovery of the America we were taught to believe in as children: the reformist, progressive, adaptable nation. The former colony that rid itself of poor treatment from it's leaders when England refused to take care of it's people. This isn't about right or left. This is about human beings and about the responsibility of a government to it's peoples. It's time to go back to loving each other and supporting our nation. That means all people in our nation. It's important to ensure our childrens future. It's important for unity. After all, we can fight together or we can fight apart but in the end....  fighting with each other instead of addressing the problem(s) really doesn't seem intelligent. It's time we stand together and start rebuilding. Tomorrow isn't far beyond the horizon...
Until next time, I wish you all good health and happy days,
Scrappy

All images once again pilfered from google images.