This is pretty much the only time I’m going to say any of this. I have said before that I don’t discuss politics, and nothing has changed. This is a very heated issue, and I do not want to have any kind of political argument on my blog. However, I have a few things to say, so here goes.
This morning I was greeted with the following status from a friend on Facebook: “No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.”
By the end of the day, several of my friends (including a few of you, my readers) had this posted. There is nothing wrong with posting that, but I want to explain why I, personally, did not post it.
That is the most asinine statement. “If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.” So if I don’t post this, I disagree? And by not posting this I’m saying that it does not matter to me that people can die because of lack of health care or that they could go broke because they get sick? Of course I agree with the basic premise of this statement! Who wouldn’t?? NO ONE should die. NO ONE should go broke. But guess what? Posting this statement (that I honestly believe every single person in the country actually does agree with) doesn’t solve a single thing. It is a broad, generalized statement that tells us nothing.
On both sides of the health care issue here in the States you will find that most people just want good, affordable health care for their family. It’s how to go about it that is the real issue. Universal health care? Government run health care? Keep it all privatized? What to do? What to do??
In my own opinion, I do believe that every person living in this country (and we’re not even going to touch immigration issues, but I will say both legal and illegal residents) deserves health care. I just don’t know how to go about it. I don’t understand a word of the plans our politicians are putting out there for us. It’s just a bunch of big words that talk circles around the average American. The average American would just like to know that we can have health insurance and that we can pay for it. The average American would like to know that we can still go see our favorite doctor, have a baby, visit the ER because of a broken bone, or if something horrible were to happen, whether it is cancer or an accident or whatever, that we will be covered and can get the care we need without having to go bankrupt to pay for it.
I honestly believe we have some of the greatest health care available to us here in the United States. I mean actual care. We have wonderful doctors and facilities and things available to us that a few generations ago (and currently in some other countries) people only dreamed about. The problem isn’t the care. It’s the system. People can not afford to get health insurance.
In my family (the Chocolate Phoenix family), we cannot afford health care, but we cannot NOT afford to have some kind of insurance. I get strep throat several times a year. It just happens that way. I have three children. Kids get sick. We pay a ghastly amount of money for a really crappy health plan, but without it we’d be worse off.
Basically, what I’m trying to say is this. I recognize that there is a huge problem with our health care system. I do not believe any one of us would want to see a person denied health care. I know there is something that can be done, but until someone comes up with a plan that I can actually understand, I’m not jumping on any bandwagons.
Chocolate Phoenix 
yeah, i skipped putting that up, too. although, for different reasons.
and that is ALL i will say because you’ve made it clear you don’t want feedback so much. 😛
I don’t mind feedback. I just don’t want an argument. I don’t see that happening with you. I really do like to hear lots of opinions and the different sides to everything. Really I do!!
(I was super nervous to actually post this because I don’t want to offend anyone, but I was so tired of reading that status. It just doesn’t make any sense to me!)
well, i appreciate your vote of confidence that i would not make this spiral into an argument but i’m going to gracefully bow out. 😀
okay, fine. (sticking my tongue out at you. Yup. I am *that* mature)
pfttttt. moron. haha!
um, you should probably update my blog location in your thing-a-ma-jig because if i ever do decide to take on the greath healthcare debate of 2009, you won’t want to miss it. lol
yeah, I keep forgetting to do that. My bad. I wouldn’t miss your take on anything for anything!!! (K, that sentence sounded better in my head. Hmmmmmm…)
I’m gunna say THREE CHEERS FOR SARIAH!!!
Here I go making my political statement: 🙂
Nathan and I like to laugh at the dumb people who think that this is an easy fix. Seems like the lower the IQ, the easier the fix. (I was going to elaborate…but I think you know exactly what I’m talking about and I don’t want to accidentally insult anyone haha) All I know is that this is a very complex issue that is going to have a complex answer. And NOTHING in life is free. The money is going to have to come from somewhere.
We’ve been really lucky. God must know that we don’t have insurance cuz we’ve been remarkably healthy for years. Aside from immunizations and the mega-lame mandatory adoption yearly physicals, none of has been to the dr in at least 3 years. And if you were to delete Jenacy’s one bad sickness year, I could count on one hand the amount of times the rest of us have been to the dr in the past 10 years. Crazy, huh?
wow. heh.
I posted the comment. I guess what I believe is that if no one ever does anything…even posting a very broad statement about what ever subject it happens to be…then no conversation will ever get started about the topic (in this case perhaps aside from the political gobbledegook), no one will be brave enough to come out from inside their little shells and decide it is time to act upon their beliefs and nothing will ever get accomplished. (Because no offense, but in the last three years I have come to realize that Americans have HIGH expectations of their country but LOW desire to actually get involved with issues that seem “hard” and then whine when they don’t get what they want) So knowing the statement was broad and perhaps a waste of my time to post, I posted it anyways knowing that at least, it would start discussions…and here we are…
K.
Excellent! (I was hoping you wouldn’t be offended by this post.) I love your reasoning for posting it. I didn’t mention it, but I loved the post script that you put on the status. Yours was the only one I saw with that. And yes, we need to get actual discussion going in this country to get something fixed. Too many people sit back and want to let others take care of everything. I’m pretty sure I’m one of them, sadly. (I just don’t like confrontation, and it seems like that’s all it is!). I wish more of these town hall meetings were actual discussion instead of people screaming at the politician, the politician using the same buzz words and catch phrases, and no one actually learning anything or getting anything accomplished. It’s ridiculous.
I totally agree!
I’m with you Sarieye! I hate having to pay for it, but I’d hate not having it and not being able to see who I want and get what I need fixed! Somewhere there is a solution. When you find it, let me know! 😉
Well, if I lived in the States and had a meaningful opinion on the subject, it would probably echo what you just said, Sariah.
In the meantime, I’m happy with our healthcare system, even with all its faults. I have faith in your country, though, and its ability to overcome issues like these. It may be facetious to compare today’s Healthcare to yesterday’s Civil Rights, but contentious issues can be worked through to accomplish a better solution. I don’t think anyone is happy with the status quo.
Well said, Karen! I’m sure a better solution will come at some point. I’m hoping for sooner rather than later.
Sariah, I wish there were more people like you in this country.
Our insurance by the numbers: If John and I wanted to be covered under Matt’s plan, it would cost us, out of pocket, $1,060 per month, with deductibles to meet and 20% of everything else to pay, too. Needless to say, on one income, and that income being a teacher’s salary, this would be a gigantic chunk of our budget. Surely, there has to be a better way. Sooner rather than later.
I’m listening very intently to the debate, and I’m hoping there can be some compromises made on both sides to make things more managable…please, please!
I do get very political–but not here–stop sweating, Sariah.
Actually, I think the last paragraph of the blog summed it up really well! Let’s just wait to actually DO anything until we know what it is we are doing!
Oh, and those town hall meetings…don’t believe everything you see on the news. My cousin has attended, and it was not so contentious–just people asking questions and receiving no answers.