Health Care in America
So I've been thinking lately, about life in America as opposed to life in most other developed Nations in the world. For years we have proudly claimed to be the wealthiest, the most powerful. For years we have proudly boasted of our freedoms, our civil rights, the charitable and kind nature of the American people.
Yet my conversations with a number of Europeans and even with some kind people from Sweden has made me wonder... why is it that in the world's wealthiest Nation, we have so many uninsured? Nearly (or perhaps higher now) 50 million people uninsured. This is during a time when an MRI costs thousands of dollars, when a visit to the ER (whether an emergency or not) is definitely going to make people wince when they get the bill.
There is some hope that the new health care reform legislation will change things for the better. Yet there are many who call it unconstitutional. There are many from the left who say that it is more a gift to the insurance companies than a true attempt to provide coverage and health care for our people. Many from the right who refer to it as socialism, suggesting that they shouldn't have to pay taxes for others health problems.
In time, what has been dubbed "Obamacare" will go to the Supreme Court so that it may be determined whether it is constitutional. It could be shot down, in fact, it's even somewhat probable, given the present Justices serving on the Supreme Court (Scalia, anyone?)
Now, as one of those uninsured Americans, I am fortunate indeed to have parents that care for me, to live in a small community with a good hospital and competent staff - Cary Medical center. Unfortunate, however, is the cost of dental care, a few hundred dollars for this tooth, a thousand for that one. Also, consider the average cost of psychiatric treatment.
At a local mental illness treatment center, a couple of years ago, the cost of a 45 minute appointment with a Psychiatrist was 350 dollars, to be paid in full at the time of the appointment. Can't pay? Sorry, no appointment, no treatment. Now who can honestly afford that? Especially without insurance? Treatment for a wide variety of conditions thus becomes unavailable, unaffordable. Those who are ill must simply struggle on without medical assistance.
In this age when many see medicare, medicaid and similar programs as unnecessary and/or too costly, it is hard to believe that Americans are sicker than ever before, more likely to have a chronic illness whether diagnosed or not. As the budget axe/s continue to swing, hacking away at the social safety net, as the rhetoric continues among the conservative elite, we may be entering an age of never before seen ignorance and callousness.
All of this leads me to ponder the question... what in the world is wrong with this Country? Those who proclaim us a Christian Nation should consider the words of Christ in the bible... "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat..." I do not believe he referred to food alone, but to helping those in need.
As the years go by I am witnessing a growing complacency, apathy and insensitivity in so many of my fellow Americans, young or old, college educated or not. I believe that how a society treats the least of its people is a good reflection upon it's overall worth and ultimate decency.
If Capitalism gone wild is to be our system of government, if wealth above human worth is to be considered ideal... I cannot help but fear for our future. Our children deserve better. This Country deserves better - our kind and brave people deserve better.
This is why when I go to the booth I will vote as progressive as I possibly can. Until our society evolves in both compassion and empathy, we will never be truly the richest Nation on earth.
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