The difference a day makes

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Wednesday, March 24. 2010

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By Susan Harper

This morning (Sunday) I woke up in a country in which people were dying by the thousands for lack of health care. Imagine that! — 18,000 a year, and in what is generally supposed to be the richest country in the world. This very morning, when I awoke, America was the last hold-out: the only one of the so-called “developed nations” of the world that did not have universal health coverage. And that had been true for 15 years. Even Kuwait, Slovenia, Iceland and Cyprus were ahead of us. Had we no shame? Apparently, yes — we had none.

As I was putting my feet on the floor, as I was making coffee and contemplating my to-do list (which included “e-mail Congressional reps re health care”), I was walking around in a country where at least 47 million citizens had no medical coverage, 75 million more were under-insured — with so-called “health plans” that would vanish if they actually got sick — and 86.7 million had been entirely uninsured for at least 6 months over past two years. In that America, more than half of all bankruptcies each year (62 percent, according to Harvard researchers) were caused by impossibly high medical bills, and 78 percent of those “medical bankruptcies” were among people who had “health plans.”

Because I had once had the privilege of living in a country where medical care was free and available to all, including me, a mere visitor; because I had experienced the relief that comes from knowing for sure that you will be taken care of, should you take sick, I have been waiting for 46 years for my country to catch up with the rest of the developed world.

I was glued to the television last weekend, as the process unfolded and the politicians held forth. I was intrigued with President Obama’s speech to the Democrats, in which he said, sympathetically, “I have been in your shoes. I know what it is to take a tough vote.” No one seemed to get it, but I thought he was probably remembering the time when he took a nationally unpopular stance and voted against the invasion of Iraq. The times changed, of course, and what had once been viewed as unpatriotic came to seem wise; Obama’s vote against that invasion was arguably one of the things that got him to the presidency.

I was also interested in John Boehner’s final speech against health care reform, in which he yelled “Shame on you!” to those who would vote for it. I had to wonder exactly how much Kool-Aid you’d have to drink to be able to rail against a bill that would insure 32 million uninsured American citizens, prevent insurance companies from dropping people from their health plan when they get sick, allow children to be on their parents’ health plan longer, get rid of the whole idea of pre-existing conditions, and reduce the deficit, all in one fell swoop.

I go to bed happy tonight, knowing that my universe has finally, finally shifted, and that tomorrow I will wake up in a country where millions of people will also be sleeping better — a country that is finally catching up to the rest of the world and taking care of its own. A country that the first President Bush would have called, rightly, “a kinder, gentler nation.”

Susan Harper is retired, lives in Commerce and volunteers for the Commerce Library Board and the Jackson County Literacy Program.

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#1 redman on 03/24/10 at 07:31 PM [Reply]

Dream On, Lady! And who is going to pay for it?

#2 jeremy on 03/25/10 at 09:09 AM [Reply]

I go to bed sad,for liberty, and freedom just pastaway.

#2.1 LOL on 03/25/10 at 09:16 AM [Reply]

Looks to me like intelligence "just pastaway." Sleep well.

#3 Delano Finch on 03/25/10 at 11:17 AM [Reply]

This is exactly the problem. If any of your family was dying would you be worried about who was going to pay for it? I don't think so. It is completely and utterly pathetic that you value your dollars more than the lives of other human beings. So taxes are raised a little more? So what? Big deal. At least this is paid for. How dare you vilify Ms. Harper for speaking out compassionately? How it's paid for really doesn't matter in the long run, because it is the right thing to do. Better yet, it's the MORAL thing to do. How do you put your insured head to a pillow every night and write off the people who are one major sickness away from bankruptcy or death.

Who are you to say that in this great country it should be a privilege to stay alive? It's unbelievable that a nation could be so arrogant as to look down on its' underprivileged the way we've done. Until now. 32 million Americans no longer have to worry about dying or losing it all because they can't afford to be healthy. A countless number of families don't have to stay up late at night worrying that their loved won't make it because they can't scrape up thousands of dollars to pay the bill for some procedure. Jeremy says he goes to bed sad for liberty and freedom. I go to bed sad for human being who lose loved ones because they aren't wealthy. For the children who've lost parents, the single mothers who can't afford to keep their kids on their plans, the poor, homeless, unemployed, and completely forgotten. Jeremy left out one important point: the words in the Declaration of Independence are LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You have your liberty, you have your freedom, you can pursue your happiness, but how dare you look down upon someone else having the chance to have LIFE.

This is so disheartening about this country. Tea partiers throwing rocks through windows because they're upset that the government spent money to help the people. Sore losers, that's what they are. We have elections and votes for a reason: someone has to lose. Voters elected a president to do something, and I call insuring 32 million Americans doing something. This is the most significant piece of social legislation in 45 years, the last of which was Medicare (a government run health program). A few years prior to that, it was civil rights legislation. And yet protestors hurl the N-word at black democratic congressmen for voting to extend healthcare to the poor. They use state's rights and secessionist language, throw bricks through windows and leave threatening voicemails in the boxes of Congressmen with whom they don't agree. And all because the government chose to help the people. How sickening. This country won't run on fear any longer.

Put your tail between your legs and walk away. Take yourself to a soulless, secessionist, anti-government, violent Klan rally if you must, but take yourself out of this discussion. You add nothing to it. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.", says Matthew 25. Read it, and I can only hope you weep for yourself. This country has fogotten how not to be selfish. How to think about a goal greater than just an individual. We've cast aside any consideration for the greater good. Until now. Next time you want to talk about something so magnanimous as the piece of compassionate healthcare legislation, how about you take a minute to look deep within your heart, instead of focusing on your wallet.

#3.1 gordon eli on 03/27/10 at 05:45 AM [Reply]

Give me, give me, give me be responsible for you self!!!!! Poor planning on your part doesn't constitute me paying more taxes to support those who choose to live off the government. It' all about choices!!!

#3.2 Homeless but Healthy on 03/28/10 at 02:03 PM [Reply]

I will remember your comments when the government comes and throws you out of your home to pay for our wonderful and now FREE healthcare.

#4 Tracy Wilson on 03/25/10 at 12:48 PM [Reply]

How magnanimous are our children and grandchildren going to feel when they are the ones forced to pay for this bill, as well as for all the other over-the-top government spending going on? And why is it that anyone who disagrees with this bill is automatically considered to be a person who would go to a Klan rally? Many on the left want to act as if those who have conservative beliefs are the intolerant ones, yet anyone who disagrees with President Obama is suspected of racism. Our national economy is terrible, and there seems to be little improvement on the horizon, yet we continue to spend, spend, spend. Where is all the money supposed to come from?? I don't think anyone's posts have vilified Ms. Harper; they simply express disagreement. I know and like Susan a lot; yet, I do not agree with her on this issue. That's not only okay; it is the American way.

#5 Delano Finch on 03/25/10 at 04:30 PM [Reply]

Extremely magnanimous!!! That's my point. If the majority of the younger generation operated under a mindset that valued human compassion instead or worrying so much about the cost of living, we'd all be better off. I'm not naive or blind to the fact that this program costs money and sadly in this society so much importance is placed there; however, even if you want to have the monetary argument, this bill is being paid for. It is deficit-lowering. That is a fact. If you don't for some unknown reason agree with math and numbers or refuse to believe it, that's a problem I can't solve. I will swallow my pride and apologize for the generalization about Klan rallies. Not every single partier or believer in the cause is a racist. However, when those are the people with microphones and the megaphones, with posters depicting te President as a monkey, or as Hitler, carrying signs stating that "We cam unarmed. This time." and these same people didn't protest the $1 trillion deficit under the white president they voted for, I am forced to raise the question. John McCain's on economic advisor stated months ago that they would have had to spend too, but I doubt the people would change voting for him. I'm simply saying the concern should prioritize helping these people, 32 million of them, instead of prioritizing the miniscule increase in taxes over twenty years. Again, the least of these. Hearts not wallets.

#5.1 cordially disagree on 03/26/10 at 05:23 PM [Reply]

I am of the younger generation and to generalize that we have no compassion is just an uninformed opinion. I have had no health care for YEARS and it is not about a new boat, etc. It is because I could not afford it. Period. I have as much compassion as the person who is for this bill has, but my worry is not about my cost of living in the future. It is whether I will have a job (recession, remember? Too much time was spent on this rather than working on the economy!) and whether or not I will be taxed so much to make up for this that all I will be able to afford IS healthcare, and that's only because they will REQUIRE me to have it. I am all about nationwide health care, I have seen first hand what can happen to a family when someone is terminal with no insurance, but the stipulations attached to this bill were just ridiculous. Requiring someone to have healthcare is a slow decline into losing our freedom of choice as a citizen. The way to start this should have been taking a look at the insurance companies and overhauling their system. And what about the attachment referring to goverment subsidized school loans, taking out the "middle man"? Again, freedom of choice anyone?

#6 Tracy Wilson on 03/26/10 at 08:38 AM [Reply]

I saw on the news this morning that another $60 billion has been added to the cost of the bill already. I believe in math, but I seriously doubt this bill will ever reduce the deficit since the prognostications are based on future money-saving actions that may or may not ever happen. Our government is not known for efficiency or saving money. It is very nice to say "hearts not wallets." That is a splendid sentiment; however, what happens when the national wallet is empty and our credit is all used up? Perhaps China will take care of us when they come to collect on all our IOUs they are holding.

#6.1 Delano Finch on 03/26/10 at 10:06 AM [Reply]

Well what I'm saying is that you are choosing to not believe what the Congressional Budget Office says; that is your prerogative. But that is the reason the office itself exists, to make projections based on their expertise and best judgement. If the country completely ignores the purpose of the experts in that office, what good are they under any President? Why would the exist? You choose to be cynical if you like, but that doesn't mean that your worst case scenario comes true. I'm sure the Congressional Budget Office didn't give high marks to the unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind, The Prescription Drug Program, and The War in Iraq, all of which were unpaid for. Upfront. No one even tried to hide it. But did this happen? Absolutely not. And "hearts not wallets" in not some simple sentiment to be cast by the wayside. It is actually a way of viewing things. If the Congressional Budget Office says this can happen, and we know the money is there, why would continue to operate under this presumption that money trumps all. My biggest pet peeve with the movement against this is that it's coming from a "conservative" circle. To their credit, these conservatives were the major reason the last President was re-elected. But now after spending years quoting the Bible and using morality as a foundation for their arguments, they've ceased to speak up. I realize that this huge fear exists about China and it's quite easy to try and envision this Armeggedon situation where they come to collect or stop buying our debt; this fear is prognosticated everyday by some pundits. But the truth is simply: they can't. Their own economy is dependent in a major way on the purchasing of U.S. Treasuries and exporting here. If they tried to beef up, they couldn't export and their unemployment would skyrocket. The value of the Yuan in China would rise and the dollar would fall, increasing our exports and their willingness to travel to America to buy goods. This is not a new scenario. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/mar/30/us-economy-china-debt] All of these monetary arguments that I didn't want to get into aside, what we're finally doing (as the last industrialized nation to do so) is the moral thing to do. And if we're told it can be done (whether or not you choose to believe the numbers or projections), then we would be wrong not to do it.

#7 Bookworm on 03/26/10 at 09:20 AM [Reply]

Susan, thank you for your perspective. Yours is not the popular view but you make some very good points, and I agree. There is so much anger and naysaying over this plan, and quite honestly, THAT scares me more anything.

#8 susangp on 03/26/10 at 02:10 PM [Reply]

What are we going to do when we realize this was not a good plan?
I agree there are a lot of people without health care coverage- but when you look around at the reasons they don't have it, it is a lot about choice! They would rather have a new bass boat- or a new Tahoe...
I work for a smaller size company- and pay a good bit for health care coverage- but would rather pay- than have my GOVERNMENT dictate to me what they deem I need!
Start with reforming Medicaid/Medicare- get all of the abusers off of welfare & disability! Don't create other means for people to rely on a hand out!

#8.1 redman on 03/28/10 at 04:34 PM [Reply]

susan... Hear!Hear!

#9 Tracy Wilson on 03/26/10 at 02:40 PM [Reply]

I don't believe it qualifies me to be a cynic just because I don't trust in everything said by a government agency. Mr.or Ms.Delano, you continue to bring up George Bush and his policies. I have not defended his spending. He, as the old adage goes, "spent like a drunken sailor on shore leave." Nor am I against any reform in health care. As just one example, insurance should be bought and sold across state lines. This would increase competition and improve products and services. I just don't believe that more and more government involvement, intervention,and spending will answer all our problems. That is not cynicism; that is belief in a system that encourages private investment and enterprise. A system which we seem to be moving away from in this country. And speaking of enterprise, I have work to do! I have enjoyed the debate. Perhaps we can have civil discourse and disagreement after all.

#9.1 Delano Finch on 03/29/10 at 11:27 AM [Reply]

I think that we can actually agree that spending cannot solve all of the problems, everywhere, every time. And I'm completely with you when it comes to buying across state lines. Small businesses and the like should be able to pool together to buy insurance, there should have been a much broader inclusion of tort reform in this bill, etc. There were good Republican ideas that were not included and I denounce that partisanship just as well. By the way, it's Mr., and I have enjoyed the debate as well. I sincerely thank you for showing that it can be civil after all, and disagreements don't have to disintegrate into a substance-lacking, free-for-all street brawl. I really to appreciate it.

#10 Open the doors - come on in! on 03/28/10 at 01:53 PM [Reply]

Free! Free! Open the doors to the customs offices and let the people in! Announce to the world, America will take care of you!! FREE!! But my dear liberal, who the he77 is going to pay for the free part of it? I do NOT begrudge care if one is sick. I do NOT begrudge care for anyone, but I do begrudge care for any and ALL NON CITIZENS, because NON CITIZENS DO NOT PAY for this FREE!!! It's me, the one holding down a job, being raped by income tax, sales tax, property tax, gasoline tax, tax tax tax that is paying for the FREE!!!!!

#11 Anonymous on 03/29/10 at 09:44 AM [Reply]

This comment is directed to Open the Doors - come on in!

Do you know why your relatives came to the United States? Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

#11.1 Open the Doors on 03/29/10 at 12:19 PM [Reply]

My dear Anonymous - my relatives are ALL U.S. citizens. If you are referring to my ancestors, they came LEGALLY!!! Your's however it appears, swam across the Rio??? Because these are the only hands being fed - I work for my food.

#11.1.1 Hmmmmm on 03/29/10 at 03:24 PM [Reply]

Dear Open the Doors, I believe what Anonymous was referring to is the fact that (if you trace it all the way back) none of our ancestors "immigrated" "legally." UNLESS, you are 100% Native American. If you are, then you're correct. Or if you're African-American. Then your ancestors were forcefully kidnapped from their land, and bought and sold to work on this one. But if you aren't 100% Native American or Black (and I suspect you aren't), then your ancestors, like the rest of ours, came here uninvited. Killed the men on it, stole this land from them for our own personal gain, and were too lazy to work it themselves, so they stole other human beings from the continent of Africa to do it for them. It's called "U.S. History." People come here for better lives. Don't you dare look down your nose at someone else. No one "chose" where he or she was born.

#11.1.1.1 Are you kidding? on 03/31/10 at 03:29 PM [Reply]

Hmmmmm so you are suggesting that the slaves that were taken from Africa were simply playing on the beach and the white man came and took them as slaves? It is called "World History". Ask any TRUE African (not to be confused with "African American") how the slave trade worked then and they will tell you a story such as this one I will relay to you. I knew a man from Nigeria and while we were standing around talking an "African American" started talking about how my ancestors enslaved his ancestors and made them work as slaves on my family's plantation. Firstly, my family did not live in the US until the 30’s so I am lost on where our “Plantation” is. I have always loved the stereotype that is put on me for being European (White) that OF COURSE my family owned slaves because I live in Georgia and I am white! Secondly, my friend asked our “African American” co-worker to which tribe or nation he came from to make the boast that he was “African American”. He of course could not answer that question so my Nigerian friend said that he would “Teach you about YOUR black history.” He said that in the old days of Africa (and even now) one tribe would fight with another tribe. The tribe that won not only got the land and crops but the remainder of the losing tribe was now the property of their tribe. He explained that “When the white man came to our coasts they had muskets, spices, and other trade items that my ancestors wanted. They asked what we had to trade for these items and my grandfathers explained that we had beads and skins. The white men said that they did not need such things. My grandfathers asked what the white men needed for trade and they explained that they needed workers for the cane farms in the islands (Caribbean) because the settlers there were all dying.” (What they didn’t know at the time was that they were dying of malaria.) “My grandfathers said, “See those men over there? We own them. We can trade them to you. The white men agreed to those terms and thus began the “slave trade”; African tribes trading their neighbors to Europeans as commodities. Now my friend explained that the reason there are African Americans in the US now is because they were the weaker tribe, but that is more of a pride issue than a fact. Now why did slavery continue? Simple! The reason that the Europeans were dying off in the Caribbean is because they were contracting malaria and there was no known cure with the exception of quinine which was vary rare and only available to the rich. The European workers (not slaves) would die off and they needed more workers, who would die off a viscous cycle. Enter the enslaved workers from Africa, they did not die, they flourished. Why? Because of cycle cell anemia. The disease could not live in a cycle cell victim which many Africans had and thus they were better able to survive the climate than Europeans. Why did slavery continue in the South? It was called the “peculiar institution” see prior to the cotton gin, slavery was on the decline in the US; Slavery as an institution did not make economical sense because while you had “free” labor, you had to feed, cloth, house your laborers. Also, it makes perfect sense that someone who was forcefully worked was not as productive as someone who was paid to work. “Willing obedience always beats forced obedience” ~ Xenophon Unfortunately after the cotton gin was invented it became profitable to be a slave owner. Either way I DO NOT support slavery, I was just throwing out some history. I have African in my ancestry when they invaded the southern Mediterranean and killed the men and raped the women in an effort to breed out MY ancestors, so I guess I am African American too by way of Europe right?

On another note, the Native Americans did not see land as property that they owned so their land was not “Stolen” from them. You cannot say that something is stolen from you that you do not own. “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children” Does that sound familiar?

This post is not meant to offend ANYONE, and I hope that it does not. Slavery was a terrible evil on this world.

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