I am married to someone who is politically very conservative. He listens to the talk radio guys and has very strong opinions about many political issues. I, too, am typically conservative, but growing up in Eugene, Oregon I guess I can't help having some liberal tendencies. (Sorry, Dave). One thing I am struggling with now is the issue of health care. I have always felt strongly that it is not the government's responsibility to provide insurance for those who cannot afford it. I am against wealth redistribution. However, I am learning to appreciate a new perspective now that I am among the millions of uninsured citizens in our nation. In discussing this issue with David he made the point that it is not "fair" to force taxpayers to pay higher amounts in order to subsidize health insurance for lower income Americans. I agree. However, it is also not "fair" that those who cannot afford health insurance can't take their sick kids to the doctor! It's not fair that many Americans are forced to choose between food and medical coverage. There is very little fairness in either system. We know from the Book of Mormon that when people are truly righteous the poor are provided for and it sickens me to see waste, gluttony, and overindulgence when those resources could be used in productive and helpful ways. Obviously in order to protect agency giving to the poor must be voluntary, but I wonder if it is such a bad thing in a society such as ours to institute some kind of mandatory donation (even if it is via taxes) in order to provide assistance to the poor. I don't know the answer. Both sides have merit, and philosophically I can debate both points of view. Maybe the solution will be found in a third option.
About Me
- Jessi
- Mom of five lovely daughters, wife of one dashing man. Born in Utah, grew up in Oregon, live in Georgia.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
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3 comments:
You're right--I think there is no good or bad, right or wrong, answer to this question. That's why the Church doesn't make a stand on political issues such as these. But I think the fact that you are grappling over it shows that you have a good heart and that you are doing what you think is best. As I had mentioned in my last visit, the more education I receive, the more I realize how RICH I am, and how my richness is NOT a reflection of how smart or hard-working I am, but rather a reflection of how I was raised, who I was raised by, and what opportunities my parents' social status afforded me. I also have come to appreciate how HARD it is to change your social/economic status. And because of this, I am not at all opposed to helping people out who did not have the advantages I did growing up (even if it means paying higher taxes). However, it still makes me sad to think that some people don't even try to increase their economic status, and choose to rely on the government instead. What is a good American citizen to do??? :)
I totally understand your concern and agree with you that there should be a way for the uninsured to receive health care when they need it. This whole issue is so complex! There is a line between providing for yourself and letting others take care of you. It is very personal, and so it is very hard to "define" one line that applies to everyone. It does happen that many many people, despite their best efforts, cannot pay for health care for themselves. It is totally appropriate that others use their resources to help them in their need. But human nature being what it is, it is very likely that people will cross that "line" and let others pay for them when they are capable of paying for themselves. This is the great challenge of administering health care funds donated to help others. Added to this challenge are people who deliberately choose unwise and unhealthy life practices that result in huge health care costs for their care. Should donated funds be used to pay for their care when they are unable to care for themselves? Ouch! Talk about a complex problem!
I'm lagging a bit on my blog hopping so I've just been reading your past few posts. This is definitely a sensitive subject, and a complex problem. I really think the problem comes in when the issue of 'insurance fraud' and 'system abuse' come into play. I am not shy about discussing or talking about the fact that I have been the beneficiary of medical social services while my husband was a student. I think that is what the system is there for, those who present a need (pregnancy, terminal illness, etc.) and are financially in need. The problem I witnessed first hand on so many occasions was that the system is abused and it is sickening. I would go down to the office to certify and sit next to 50 or more women with $200 cell phones, the latest hair-do from the salon and their acrylic nails. The thought would constantly run through my mind “how do they afford all that”. I was at a WIC apt. one time and I walked out of class with a lady and she got into her Lexus SUV! I couldn’t believe it! I do not think having those things are BAD, but if you can’t afford basic necessities for your family, I don’t understand what people are doing with those ‘luxuries’. The other thing is, because the way the laws are set up in our country, hospitals can not deny anyone who walks in that needs assistance. That includes ‘undocumented immigrants’ and those who do not have health insurance. It really is a double edged sword because we can hardly afford the health insurance we have, and we just had our daughter in the hospital and came away with $2,500+ in medical bills, and we have insurance! Buying private health insurance is SO expensive, and has high deductibles. A certain amount of our taxes do go towards the gov’t aided health care, and our health care premiums are also higher because we are essentially absorbing the health care costs for the many ‘undocumented immigrants’ (to be p.c.) I am not against people immigrating to our country, but do think that changes need to be made in the system where they are ‘documented’ sooner so they can pay taxes and get health care benefits (this is something we hear a lot about in SE Texas... especially approaching elections...and being that my husband is a medical resident... we discuss it more frequently that most probably). Sometimes I wonder if socialized medicine wouldn’t have it’s benefits? It definitely wouldn’t be good for the doctors in our country, but every system has its downfalls.
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