The only thing we have to fear....

8-5-09

I've been thinking a lot about health care reform lately. How can one not? I have been pleading, cajoling and pestering friends, family and social networks to declare their support for our president's core principles:

1. Reduce health care costs.
2. Preserve one's choice of doctor.
3. Provide health care to all who need it.

(side note, dear reader: have you done this? go here)

This issue has really gotten me fired up, because there is so much fear mongering going on. I don't understand how a country that has accomplished so much can be whipped up into such hysteria. All this 'socialist' nonsense. You would think that Obama was flying the hammer and sickle over the White House and wearing a Stalin t-shirt to his press conferences.

Let's get this straight: NO ONE KNOWS what exactly will happen with health reform. Just like no one can predict exactly what will happen with the stock market, the weather, or the price of tea in China. But what we SHOULD know, is that our current system is fucked up. It just ain't working. My personal example is that my health insurance costs have gone from $208 a month in 2006 to $447 a month in 2009. And I have a high deductible HSA plan! What does that mean? It means I pay for everything! I pay to go to the doctor and for all my family's prescriptions! Not a co-pay, I pay the whole freight. And for the priviledge of having my insurance kick in should I get hit with a medical catastrophe, I pay $5300 a year PLUS whatever I pay for doctors, prescriptions, etc. Add in dentist visits and other things that aren't covered, the tab is about $13000 a year. The good news for me is that I can afford it, but if I were pulling in a median income? Big trouble.

Here is what this issue should boil down to for each citizen:

Are you happy with your current health insurance? If you are, then you won't have to do anything. No one is going to goose step into your house and force a government policy on you.

Are you unhappy with it? Then you should have a government provided, affordable choice. Not something you have to take, but something you can choose to take.

Does the thought of losing your job and therefore your health insurance freak you out? If yes, you are far from alone. No one should be left without health coverage. One bad car accident and you could be tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Debt that could wipe you out completely.

More questions:

In a country as rich as ours, doesn't it make sense for us to finally follow suit of nearly every other modern and civilized country and have government health insurance? If you're fretting about the big, bad, scary government running health care, I ask you this: Is the private sector really doing a wonderful job here? I mean.... really??? Does everything have to be turned into a profitable enterprise? Does someone have to be making a buck when you need a MRI?

And finally, what would have happened to this country's biggest achievements if we began to give into the fear mongers? "Let's go to the moon!" said JFK. Oh, no! What if the rocket crashes? What if we don't get to the moon? What if the astronauts get stranded? What if there are aliens that attack us? For God's sake America: sack up! Stop being such ninnies! We can DO THIS. It will not be perfect and we will need to tweak a thing or two, but let's just stop cowering in the corner or gnashing our teeth over how much money it will cost. We'll be fine.

My proof? I have none-- other than to offer the example of the Bush years when the far left was screeching:

America's becoming a theocracy!
Big Brother's reading all your emails!
Dick Cheney is sending NPR listeners to Guantanamo!

Those things didn't happen--- because the predictions of all nut job extremists never happen. Most of those people raving on TV and radio make money to be extreme. They're getting extremely rich by locking you into their fear tractor beam.

So turn down the fear, please. Turn up the reason and compassion. And if you haven't done it already, contact your Senators and Reps about your feelings regarding health care.