Health and Patriotism

On July 29, 2009 The Palm Beach Post ran an article on page 6A by Dr. Charles Krauthammer, entitled "Why Obamacare is sinking," which was Dr. Krauthammer's response to the President's plan to provide nationwide Healthcare, and the incorporation of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report on the cost of the initial bill from the House of Representatives.

The view of the article appears to be an historical look at the end of "Obamacare" and what brought about its demise. It begins with the author calling the President of the United States "the master rhetoritician," thus implying that the debate is merely insincere political banter. As I recall, President Obama made a thorough speech about Healthcare reform in which he said that people who are discussing the fate of this sector of the economy and America's future need to understand that the Healthcare system is the biggest problem related to the stagnation of our economy and must be fixed this year. The President said, "Make no mistake, Healthcare reform will happen... and it will happen this year."

Rhetoric means that the speaker is using words merely for the sake of their oratory value, and cares only about the way in which they say things... not that the person is saying something in support of their own belief. Thusly, Dr. Krauthammer believes that the President of the United States plans to talk about reforming Healthcare in convincing and grand order, though he does not truly wish the best system be available to the people of the United States of America, all of which he represents.

Dr. Krauthammer was apparently spurred to action by the release of the CBO report that says House Bill 3200 increases "cost in the range of $1 trillion plus," and based on this, the man who was elected President of the United States has been revealed as a "master rhetoritician." Since the specifics on how that money will be allocated, and the cost savings from revamping our Healthcare system (which ranks 37th in the world and is more than 15% of GDP) have yet to be determined, it seems a bit premature to call the effort to reform Healthcare sunk just yet… especially since we've only taken the first step toward working on it. Of course deciding to spend money costs more money, but we haven't even been able to consider what we're getting yet.

C-SPAN coverage of Senate Committee meetings in each of the 5 committees show that both Republicans and Democrats are considering all the possibilities in an effort to create a completely new system that will work for the majority of Americans (roughly 98%). The US Senate is in no way considering adopting a Healthcare system established by any other country, as their systems were established based on each individual country's circumstance. If the talk on Capital Hill consisted of a series of Senators discussing which country we were going to borrow a system of Healthcare from, I think Americans would see that their representatives lacked the capabilities for such a task. No, Americans from all areas of the country are considering many if not all aspects of what this legislation will mean, and those who suggest otherwise might better be called "rhetoriticians." Senators are working though their fall breaks in committee to get this done.

I disagree with the rather smug analysis that the effort to reform Healthcare is merely political rhetoric. As a common American, I realize that if I get Healthcare coverage guaranteed by the government to be affordable, I am then untethered by one of the most important parts of the necessity of work. People don't stay where they work all their lives anymore, and companies realize they are better served by that fact. Your average person stays in their career for less than 5 years today, where it was 25-35 years in recent history.

It would be a tremendous relief to know I may leave a workplace once I am able to see my usefulness wane, without the worry of losing my Healthcare coverage or paying through the nose for COBRA. Often times people must work until they die (quite literally) to have Healthcare for themselves and their family. Someone telling me there might be a way for me to not share that fate has my undivided attention. Those who tell me I shouldn't want this security are out of touch with my reality. I am starting out in life (32yo), and I won't choose to live in a manner I can clearly see isn't working.

Dr. Krauthammer says "Didn't Obama promise a new politics that puts people over special interests? Sure. And now he promises expanded, portable, secure, higher-quality medical care -- at lower cost! The only thing he hasn't promised is to extirpate evil from the human heart. That legislation will be introduced next week. (6A)"

1) Obama is speaking as clearly and forthrightly as I have ever seen a President speak, using pointed addresses on TV, the Internet, and in town-hall meetings about a subject of tremendous importance to me (one of the 200,000,000 workers in America making less that $58,000/yr). The President is setting goals, and leaving a clear path of accountability for the betterment of health for all Americans. I never thought I would qualify as a special interest group to President Obama, but I'm honored.

2) Americans like me need a Healthcare system that is expanded, portable, secure, of higher-quality and at a lower cost. If I can keep track of 100 or more people on a social networking site, why can't doctors keep track of 10,000 or more patients on a medical networking site? (Or even allow people to be able to access their own medical records online so that their history isn't lost or delayed if they move)

3) Though it may not be possible to remove or cleanse the human heart of evil, it is possible and quite necessary to create a new Healthcare system that works for most (if not all) Americans this year. It seems that this process would help to extirpate the evil of privately owned corporations and insurance companies keeping quality Healthcare from the average American.

I would ask Dr. Krauthammer (and anyone else with an interest in stopping me from getting security for my health and the health of my family) to claim who they actually represent, for it is not me or anyone I know. If anyone could convince the majority of people to be against this process by discussing the specifics, then we would not be talking about it. If Dr. Krauthammer is trying to convince me that because the CBO says that a bill that authorizes spending money on Healthcare is going to cost money, and that fact is reason enough for me to not want the security that this reform will afford the future of the nation I love, then he is sorely mistaken. I am aware of the discussion beyond persuasion from insignificant reports bent to try to mean something politically.

America, and the World, is changing. We are all vastly more aware of each other regardless of our location or walks of life. If our elected officials and "leaders" are unable to foster the security we demand for future generations, then perhaps they should remove themselves from the conversation, lest they be removed. The use of scare tactics will not dissuade me from wanting something I can see is best for my country going forward.
A patriot stands up to discuss the best direction of the country. A tyrant tries to prevent such thoughts. Where do you fit in?