the Great Debate

newscopy.org

From the beginning of human civilization, a common recurring theme has continued to surface. That theme begs an essential social question. What must certain members have to give up to improve the general well-being of their fellow compatriots? We have seen great civilizations rise and fall, many of which were run by a select group of tyrants who greatly oppressed their people. However, in 1776, a new and ingenious country came to life. It stated that it was a nation of the people, by the people, for the people. Of course that was not entirely true then, nor is it now. Like any great country, the United States has the chance to progress forward every day and help more and more people achieve something close to the American dream. However, paradoxically the small upper class minority in this country has artificially taken power over those below them. In a country like America, this should simply not be the case. The power of the working majority, those that fuel the nation are whom should have the power and must. However, constantly those running corporate America find ways to restrict the possibilities of those under them in the socioeconomic ladder. They do this in many ways. But today, I think It would be interesting to take a look at how they have literally put a price on life and death and how this brings us here to discuss the debate on healthcare.

First, it's important to evaluate the state of the American health system. About a year ago, President Obama signed into place a health care reform plan that theoretically overhauled the American health care system. This plan did two big things in my mind. First, it greatly encourages companies to provide health insurance to all of their workers by charging them $2,000 per uninsured worker. Companies with 50 or fewer employees are exempt. However, there have always been types of incentives for companies to offer health coverage to their employees. Not only have they found ways around it, but more importantly, the health insurance companies themselves have consistently found ways to screw over the very people they are meant to protect when those people need help the most. Obama's health plan helped stifle such immoral behavior by creating a federal health insurance regulatory board to essentially monitor our nation's health companies and block certain actions such as sudden rate increases.

Obama has many good things in said plan but a lot of work still needs to be done in order to get every single American insured. Somehow, the number of uninsured Americans actually increased last year and did so substantially up about 3 million, as reported by the Center for Disease Control/Prevention. The overall number currently stands at about 50 million. This is because unemployment continues to be rampant and health care still finds itself entwined with jobs. New legislation ensures that young people can hitch a ride on their parents' insurance plans up through age 26. Also, an important step has been taken with the Affordable care Act that theoretically eliminates  health insurance companies banning your coverage when you need it most. 

But, we cannot rest assured until every American not only has health coverage but coverage that is guaranteed to pay for whatever health hazards come their way. A vast majority of the health care discussion always comes back to disparity in America. A cycle exists where it is most profitable for top companies to exploit those already at the bottom of the ditch. They give the poor the worst education in the worst neighborhoods. They make it so that the most affordable food and therefore the best option day in and day out is McDonalds, Burger Kind etc... They then act like it is a coincidence that Hispanics are 50% more likely to die from Diabetes than whites. A continued indirect racism takes place in America, one that on the whole continues to build up the statuses of already powerful whites while discouraging immigration and saying that those from inner cities are somehow more lazy than those given ridiculous advantages in life. By giving every American health care, we provide a starting block for everyone, regardless of their race or geographic location. This will only work simultaneously with education reform to help end helpless cylces in impoverished America. However, healthcare is a simple step in moving toward helping the possibilities of achieving the American dream. When more people have a chance, competition increases and general quality of work goes up. Nearly every other sensible country in the world realizes this. Why can't we?

-twil


sources: time magazine, center for american progress, whitehouse.gov, CDC