Posted by
Curt Day on Saturday, July 25, 2009 11:22:17 AM
What is it all about? For some, universal health care is about the government's take over of personal responsibility. For others, universal health care is about paying higher taxes. And still others foresee longer long waits for the same health care service that they are already satisfied with. So what is universal health care all about?
Universal health care is not just about providing health care for those who have inadequate care now, it is also about those who have health care now. In fact, we could say that it is more about those who have adequate health care than those who are in need because there are enough satisfied customers who vote and make campaigns contributions for politicians to listen to. So whether we will have some form of Universal Health Care depends on whether those have health care will support health care for those who don't.
Some satisfied customers will ask, "What about the costs of universal health care?" That is an important question because we all bear the costs of such a plan. The costs will include higher taxes and/or budget cuts some place else to pay for the care. And if we are paying higher taxes for universal care, then some will feel like their freedom is being taken away because they are not supporting this care voluntarily. And last but not least, if everyone has access to health care, then us satisfied customers will have to wait longer to see the doctor.
But all these costs point to what Universal Health Care is all about. Universal Health Care is about sharing. Such health care is about those who have helping out those who don't have. Eventually, higher taxes for some will affect all. And certainly if more people can see my doctor, I will have to wait in a longer line. So why should I be forced to share? It is because Universal Health Care is about one American sharing with another.
In addition, Universal Health Care is a moral value. That is because when what is being shared is essential to life and health, then sharing becomes more than just a personal preference. To not share will result in preventable death for some. But the conservative montra says liberty and the individual are the supreme moral values that made America great. Therefore, making me share is a greater sin than preventing death. And that is the conservative objection until we address the issue of abortion.
When it comes to abortion, most conservatives want to sacrifice the individuality and liberty of the expectant mother for the life of the unborn child. Here, conservatives have no problem calling those who are unwilling to make such a sacrifice a murderer. So why should we not say the same about not sharing health care with those in need? The Conservative will answer saying but the unborn child cannot be responsible for him or herself while the adult can. And thus to force me to pay for the health care of an adult who was not responsible enough to pay for their own health is immoral. But then we have to ask what about the adult's children. Should they also be held responsible for not having health care? And what about the adult whose job was shipped overseas so investors here could reap the highest possible profit? What about that adult who cannot find work with adequate benefits here; is that adult irresponsible because of the lack of opportunities?
Universal Health Care is about sharing. And since this sharing is with fellow Americans, we could also add that Universal Health Care is about patriotism. In addition, we might want to consider that the children of many families that could not afford health care now serve in the military, why aren't those of us who have adequate health care coverage willing to share with the families those who are sharing with us by serving in the military?
We might quibble about what is the most efficient and effective way of providing Universal Health Care. We might also squabble about how to make Universal Health Care feasible. But we sin grievously when we object to Universal Health Care.