I feel the health care system needs changing. In fact, I don't know anyone who would disagree with that premise. Yet what does changing the health care system look like? That is the question!
A few years ago I worked at a facility where we employed seasonal instructors. School groups would come in and these instructors would teach classes like forest ecology, stream ecology, pioneer life, survival skills and night wildlife. These instructors were usually incredibly talented, recent college graduates, looking for their place in the world. Most were extremely intelligent. Many of them would stay a season and then head off the next great adventure. One in particular caught my attention. He was a fantastic instructor, great with students and adults alike. His knowledge base was great and he loved sharing it with students. When we was not teaching, he loved to backpack. He had completed the Appalachian Trail, and was working towards doing the Pacific Crest Trail. It was his belief that he should be able to go through life like this isf he chose. I agree. It was his belief he should be able to work the length of a contract, save his money, and head off into the wild. I agree. It was his belief that others should be responsible for his health care. And there we differed.
That young man also said, "the government" would take care of things. When asked what goods and services "the government" produced to generate revenue to pay bills, he had no answer. But that is a different story.
I can be sympathetic. I don't want people to suffer unnecessarily. I believe people should receive care. But then who pays? If you do not have the funds, who pays? Should others be on the hook for your bill? What do we do?
Health care is an expensive business. Why? Well, doctors and nurses must go through a lot of education and training to be qualified to treat you. They don't just give those degrees out in cereal boxes. Medical equipment is expensive. MRI machines cannot be found cheaply on ebay. (and if you find one, don't buy it) Malpractice insurance is very expensive. And the amount of unjustified law suites against doctors goes up every year. So how can it not be expensive?
Do we really need the government to determine our health care? Do we need the government telling insurance companies they must cover someone? Is that their role?
I have heard it said that this latest health care reform bill will cut the deficit. How? It is a trillion dollar bill, and we are already in the hole. Everything our federal government does is more expensive than any estimates. Why would this be any different? And the government will ensure things run smoothly? Since when? Have you been to a driver's license office recently? How smooth was that?
By some polls, as many as 80% of our citizens expressed displeasure with this bill. Our representatives in Washington voted for it any way. Either they don't listen, they don't care or they think they know better than we do what we need. I am of the opinion they don't care, because this was a power grab. Any thinking person knows this bill will never be rescinded. The fear tactics used against anyone who would try to take this government mandate away will be amazing.
I have heard it said that if people do not get insurance they will go to jail. I just have one more question-where is that in the Constitution? Maybe those folks in D.C. don't care about that any more than they care about our opinion.
As I said, I believe something must be done to health care. I am not smart enough to have any good ideas. That said, I don't believe this is the way to do things. Just one man's opinion.
