Viewpoints
Health care
By Jessica Rollberg
October 01, 2009
Thursday PM
I have been a working, tax paying citizen for over 10 years now
and have gone without health insurance for 8 because of my inability
to afford it. I pray constantly that nothing will happen to
me so that I can continue to support my family. I graduated
from college, I am educated. There is no reason that I should
have to fear for myself and my families welfare should I fall
victim to illness.
We live in the wealthiest country in the world. We have the
technology and resources to provide every person in this country
with adequate health care coverage. Illegal immigrants are already
getting health coverage in our hospitals' emergency departments
through EMTALA - and it is costing our country, and you, billions
of dollars each year. Why not give them a less expensive outlet
through which to secure care and try to eliminate some of that
debt? The government already has access to our personal information.
Taxing businesses that make $400,000 or even $200,000 is not
even that bad when you consider that the average uninsured American
probably makes minimum wage or less.
It's time to end the selfish ways of the rich. Everyone has
to make sacrifices to live in a society that promotes health
and equality. You probably can afford to get sick. You probably
have investments and credit that will float you until you get
well. You probably don't live paycheck to paycheck and won't
risk putting your family on the street if you have to take off
work for a month or two in order to get well. Put your selfish
interests aside and think of the good this could do for people
that go bankrupt trying to afford their medical bills. Or those
with sick children that put off their own ailing health to secure
their child's.
Nearly half of our country suffers from preventable chronic conditions.
We are dying as a nation. 16.5% of our GDP is spent on health
care, over $2 trillion. And we rank 37th among all nations by
the World Health Organization, on par with Serbia. The time
is now. We must act before the chance passes us by.
Jessica Rollberg
St. Louis, MO
About: " I am a working
single mom. I have a vested interest in this subject because
I have no insurance."
Received October 01, 2009 -
Published October 01, 2009
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