When I was a child, my parents taught me there are certain words that I shouldn’t repeat if I wanted to avoid trouble.
“Universal health care” was not any of them.
Whatever position I take on this issue is simply begging for criticism, but to steal a line from President Obama: “I’m not here to worry about the future, I’m here to help shape it.”
So here I go.
On one hand I think universal health care sounds great because I believe all people are equal and everybody deserves the same shot at a decent life, but I also realize our country is experiencing some troubling economic times and facing a massive deficit.
What are we going to give up so we can fund health care reform?
We can’t cut funding to either of the wars our country is fighting, and I don’t want to see any money taken away from education because that would handicap the safety and future of the nation.
Another concern I have about universal health care is whether it would limit the progression of our doctors. If the government regulated how much money a doctor could make, what would motivate them to improve?
I assume this wouldn’t affect the doctors who are passionate about their work, but I do think it will influence the doctors who are in just for the money.
The last concern I have about universal health care is if the government requires businesses to offer health care to its employees, would that force businesses to lower wages? That is a small concession to pay for health care, but it is still a concession.
I myself have health insurance, but that is not because I am better or have worked harder than anyone else. I am just fortunate. My father retired from a government job and I am covered under his insurance.
I am in favor of health care reform. I don’t want people to suffer. I want mothers to be able to stay at home with their kids when they are sick without worrying about losing their house.
Universal health care sounds great, but how are we going to make it work?