Where are our priorities?
The health care debate has triggered some powerful emotions and stances…unfortunately many appear politically based and financially motivated than rationally sound.
The people I have personally spoken with who oppose “heath care reform” (I hate that name) surprisingly spew sound bytes rather than reason. I have actually heard someone who I once thought as intelligent compare Obama to Hitler. Yes a man who wants to ensure every American can see a doctor and get the care they and their family needs is just like one of the greatest mass murderers in history. They also argue that we will be paying for those who just don’t want to work, those who are just milking a system. While that is true, these people are unfortunately mixed in with a large population of people who truly want to stand on their own two feet and who for one reason or another cannot. People who truly need our help. But at the end, there was one consistent theme as the basis of their opposition. They all said, “Why should I pay for someone else’s health care.” And this seems to be a bottom line although largely unspoken.
Even more sorrowful is that the majority of these people, at least those who I have spoke with, probably spend more going out drinking and partying in six months than they would in any additional taxes. Yes these people are the ones, and probably the only ones who would need to pay additional taxes if healthcare reform is passed. Yes these are also the people who could probably pay for most of their healthcare without insurance although it is covered by their corporate employers. Yes these people have not felt the slightest tinge of the recession. And good for them, they work hard and have worked hard for years to earn what they have. These are not people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Nevertheless, they don’t even blink at spending $250 for a single game seat to see the Yankees, but can’t see helping those who need help.
The problem may be one of priorities that have been steadily changing since the early 1980’s. It’s OK , even applauded, to earn $20 million a year to play baseball or basketball, or for a model to earn $40 million a year to stand in front of a camera or walk down a runway wearing someone else’s designs and creations; or a for financier to earn $100 million a year creating investments with no real foundation. But a policeman or fire fighter, who put their lives in harm’s way everyday to protect ours, struggle day-by-day.
Somehow America has lost its way and we need to get it back before it’s too late.