A $871 Billion Dollar Change

Oh boy. I don't even know where to start with this one.

The senate passed a Health Care Reform Bill this morning and all is not well in America. Not all Americans have a desire to have health care reform. I have heard several reasons from those that oppose and mostly it's "Who's footing the bill?". I have heard arguments from "what's wrong with what we have now" to "this will cripple our country for years to come". I've heard that the Medicare coffer will be empty in 10 years to we are sacrificing our children's economic future for today's gains.

The last thing that I want to do is to make this a Left vs Right post. That is not my agenda here. But seeing that all Dems voted for and all Republicans voted against leave me no choice. This whole debate is full of testosterone and there is much posturing and flexing of muscle going on at Capitol Hill. But let's for a moment bring it back to our cities, villages, towns, hamlets, and most importantly, the waiting rooms. I had the privilege of working in the pharmaceutical industry for 3 years and witnessed first hand as an observer the need for health care reform. In many respects, I actually worked for an industry that is very instrumental in the decline of health care and actually perpetuates the very issues that calls for reform.

The republicans have not made an argument against "health care reform". Their argument is the cost of health care reform. Which says to me, that they agree that we need it but we just do not have the means to pay for it. I also hear that Americans get sick and can't afford health care and people die, get over it, that's the way of the world. That is not what's being said, but that is what I am hearing. One guy told me yesterday that it would create an air of jealousy because, "na na na na na, my coverage is better than yours". Well are these good reasons to not make change? Why is it that we care so much about the future of America and maintaining the country's wealth for the sake of our children when it comes to social programs. But yet, we hardly sneeze at the proliferation of war or the investment in climate change (which is a blog for another day. I must say that I agree with the Republicans on the whole Global Warming farce).

Much can be said for the abuse of social health care. People can give me examples all day of isolated incidents of medicaid and medicare fraud and demographics that partake in such crimes. But health care reform isn't about the poor and it is not about the wealthy. It is about the middle class; the very group of people that are most times impacted by all bills passed whether it be tax, health care, welfare, or corporate. I say to you Mr. and Mrs. Family-under-$200K-a-year; you want to see your bank account and retirement shrink faster than a penis in cold water, get sick. Become terminally ill; cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc. After co-pays, and medication, and 24 visits per year to the doctor, you will either get a second job, sell your home and move in with your children, or just put a bullet in your head. And what about those insurance companies that say no to pre-existing conditions. Oh, i'm sorry Anthem, this gout does not have a switch to turn on and off. How about the rip off that is COBRA? Have any of you ever used this? And if you did, did you sell your car to afford it?

To the opposition, I know that your soapbox is big and you're shouting from the rooftops that President Obama is an idiot. I hear you. But he made a good point that since President Roosevelt, American presidents have been trying to make this work with multitudes of opposition. If we have been trying to reform health care since 1912 while at the same time trying to appease both sides, it is an exercise in futility. For this same 100 years, we have said no to reform and yes to keeping things status quo. And to this, I say NO! We asked for change when we voted for Barack Obama and it's time to see the change promised. For those of you that oppose the President's actions for change, just sit on the sidelines and watch. That's why bleachers are built.

Remember this. The creed of the Republican is less government. So to ask for sweeping health care reform by government is a no-no. They would much rather health care be a corporate venture with very little or no government intervention. They also want the health care industry to regulate themselves and hope that if crimes are permitted then the justice system will step in. Much like they do in regards to illegal trade and Ponzi schemes. As millions of Americans are screwed in the process, then people meet, talk, make changes, suffer through litigations, and Americans continuously go broke in the process. But ultimately, things stay the same. And the sad part is, we have stood on the side of contentment as long as it did not affect us personally and watch this debacle unfold. See, health care is personal. Very personal. It's a national expense as long as it does not affect us personally or our families. Then when mom is stricken with cancer and the bills are piling up, we will take help from anywhere; government or otherwise. When little brother is infected with HIV, we call everyone to find out how can this treatment be paid for; social service programs, hospitals, etc. It won't matter will it.

This is a change that has aged President Obama in his first year. It is a change worth the stress.

Chris Wright