Historical September–October 2009 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The last few weeks have witnessed an incredibly cacophony concerning proposed national health care. Talk radio and cable TV have featured little else. Opponents of an expanded federal role in health care object to the growing size and cost of government. That objection is legitimate and has accompanied similar expansions of federal prerogatives. Since its founding, many in our country have believed that government which governs least governs best.
It is the private sector — the generator of wealth — that is revered. Indeed, our pursuit of capitalism has made possible incredible accomplishment. But, the unrestrained pursuit of personal wealth has twice led to significant overreaching that threatened our financial underpinnings.
It was the federal government that saved the day in the 1930s and in 2008-09. Many may be appalled by the scope of the recent bailout of banks and automobile companies. But, without these bailouts there would have been catastrophe.
The market doesn’t always work.
The stimulus package was huge albeit but it has put people back to work and retained positions in local and state government. It’s Keynesian that’s true, but things are beginning to pick up. Health care has a variety of opponents.
There are those on Medicare — a federal program — that fear having their benefits cut.
Then there are those who say that don’t want government coming between them and their doctor.
However, if you are receiving private insurance, the insurance company already does.
It authorizes whether the tests your doctor would like will take place.
It has restrictions, deductibles, and co-payments. And the costs rise greater than inflation each year.
The most pernicious attack on Obama’s plans for health care come from those who say that “death panels” will decide who is worthy to go on living.
From this comes those, include Rush, who say Obama’s plan is a Nazi plan and put swastikas on signs.
As the child of parents who lost their parents and many other relatives in the Holocaust, I say enough, enough. Learning about living wills is a voluntary enterprise. Many have such a document today. What’s behind all this antipathy? It’s ideological and, most of all, it’s political.
Some would love to hand Obama a huge defeat. But, what of the 46 million uninsured and those afraid to lose or leave their job because of preexisting conditions. It’s ironic that every Western country other than the U.S. has a national health program, although they differ from one another. Will the wealthiest of these countries continue to opt for an increasingly expensive and not comprehensive way to deliver health care and will fear continue to be the principal weapon to utilize against those who want change? One local group working on this issue is Missourians for Single Payer Health Care, headquartered at the World Community Center, 438 N. Skinker at Kingsbury.
Call 862-5735 for information on upcoming meeting on September 17 at the Ethical society.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2009.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2009_09.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
