By Butch Freedman
Lately I’ve had to deal with some health problems — skin carcinomas to be precise. Too much sunning in my youth on the waves and beaches of New Jersey. My mother used to slather us with Coppertone. Wear hats, I say. And use that high SPF sunscreen. But for me, the horse is already way out of the barn. I’ve had two surgeries now, painful, but successful, one more to go. But I’m not where to whine. I’m lucky. I will survive. And, importantly, I have health insurance. Many are not so lucky.
When the bill came from the clinic, I was startled at the cost — many thousands of dollars, but reading further, I saw that most of the cost was covered by Medicare and my supplemental insurance. I am among the privileged in this country, where often times, medical costs are only covered for those who are least in need of them. And in our current environment, where tax cuts go only to the rich and ordinary folks have to struggle to pay the rent or buy groceries, medical care, even when vitally needed, has to go by the wayside. Staying alive and healthy, is not for everyone here. The situation is shameful — not what to expect or imagine in the richest country in the world.
Almost all other first world countries have some form of national or universal health care coverage. Just a few examples: Canada, Taiwan, S. Korea, Australia, Brazil, China, India, and many, many more. But here in our country, older Americans often have to make a choice between filling prescriptions and eating. And children are denied vaccinations by an ignorant Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Little Bobby Kennedy Jr. has made a mockery of that office’s name.) And to add to the misery, trump and his republican enablers are making extreme cuts to the Affordable Care Act — 750,000 people were recently cut from the roles, with the false claim that these people were receiving funds they didn’t qualify for. Thanks Dr. Oz, you phony tv doctor and trump butt-licker. Sorry, got a bit carried away there. But this situation is dire and is daily costing lives. Why do we continue to support such a cruel system with such immoral and unethical, and dangerous “leaders”? How can we continue to be proud of our country when every day the administration commits new crimes against both our (trump’s) perceived enemies, and against our own citizens?
Like the right to free speech and free public education (both also under attack), the access to medical attention and care is also a right, and should not be a privilege of the wealthy. Just ask China or Switzerland, or Japan. But this sad state of affairs does not have to remain this way. It’s well past time for a serious change of leadership. With the mid-term elections now only a couple weeks away, we have a chance to put people into office who are willing to fight to improve not only our health care system, but also put a clamp on the criminal escapades of this amoral administration. Voting is essential, crucial, life affirming. Do it now.
