The news has been inundated with health care reform happenings. Obama is trying to put these reforms through -- despite harsh criticism that such reforms would result in the US becoming a socialist or communist country.
To these critics, I say hogwash.
We have a real problem in this country: too many people are uninsured and underinsured, and it is, indeed, up to our government to take care of its people. Too many people are falling ill and/or dying because there is no universal coverage.
According to the Lansing State Journal, the Ann Arbor-based Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation conducted a survey of 1,022 people to assess the state of their health care status. A staggering 40% of uninsured Michigan adults surveyed delayed getting necessary medical care for at least six months.
This caused me to reflect. When I discovered my tumor, I was privileged enough to have insurance and was able to get medical help immediately. If I were uninsured, I probably would not have investigated it further, and I'd probably be, well, long dead by now.
The Lansing State Journal also states, "A third of all Medicaid patients report difficulty in finding medical providers willing to accept Medicaid."
I'm not a political activist or lobbyist, just a US citizen who wants to see everyone's basic needs for health care met.
It's only fair.
For those who think Obama's health care reform platform will turn our capitalistic culture into socialism or communism, think again. Franklin D. Roosevelt put through a little government program called Social Security. At the time, this move was harshly criticized by many as socialist, much the same way Obama's health care reform efforts have been criticized. Now people are mourning Social Security's imminent demise. This program didn't turn us into a socialist or communist country -- and neither will health care reform.
Besides, our country has the resources to enact universal health coverage. All we need to do is stop participating in unnecessary wars and stop giving people in Congress lucrative raises.
That should free up some government money.
Click here for the full Lansing State Journal article.
Beth L. Gainer is a professional writer and has published numerous academic and magazine articles, as well as an essay on her breast cancer experience in the anthology Voices of Breast Cancer by LaChance Publishing. She writes about a potpourri of topics, including motherhood and her Chinese adoption experience at http://currents-living-discovery.blogspot.com/, and her cat Hemi blogs at http://www.catterchatter.blogspot.com/. Beth teaches writing and literature at Robert Morris University in the Chicago area. She has a guest posting on The World's Strongest Librarian at http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/3597/sharing-a-loved-ones-pain-guest-post-by-beth-gainer/.
She can be contacted at bethlgainer@gmail.com and gainercallingtheshots@gmail.com.
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