Monday, March 22, 2010

Health Care Bonanza

The health care reform of the United States is on the tip of everyone's tongue today, so I figured I'd throw my two cents in to the cluster. Let me begin by saying I am an uninsured American who was kicked off my mother's health insurance because I am no longer a full-time student, so the ramifications of the health care reform may be slightly different than those who currently have health insurance.

As per usual, I have only done scattered research on the legislation working its way through the digestive system of our federal government. On the one hand, I am at a disadvantage because I haven't read the documents themselves, but on the other hand I don't have the advice of pundits floating above my shoulders and whispering their bipartisan comments in my ear as so many of my peers do. This creates for me an opinion which is as unbiased as possible, while also giving me only glimpses of how this new system will work for and against me.

The only thought on everyone's mind: taxes. Taxes and fees. Many employed, insured Americans are enraged that any of their precious, "hard-earned" money might go toward something besides the detailing of their car or to pay down their tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt they accrued being stupid with their money. Was there enough venom in that last sentence?

Listen, we pay taxes all the time. A surprisingly large portion of my paycheck is taken out for taxes filing as a single dependent, and the Social Security taxes that are taken out probably won't even benefit me. But you know what's crazy and weird? Life isn't fair. I think many people moan and complain about things like taxes and Obama and how awful the government is because they haven't had enough unfairness in their lives. The government is going to make decisions that you don't personally like and that might not personally benefit you. The weird, crazy thing about the government is that it's supposed to serve the people of the country, not just those who are fortunate enough to have health insurance or those with money. Yes the system is flawed, yes people take advantage of government's money, and sometimes your elected officials will make decisions that you might not personally agree with. That's life, friends. Get over it.

Obama is not a God, and he's not a saint. He's a dude who got elected president, and who is making the best decisions he can. As far as I can see, he's not pandering to parties, or swaying because Republicans are pitching a bitch. He is making a decision that he thinks is right and advantageous for the people of his country. That's what I would call a good president.

Disclaimer: I voted for Obama, but mostly because I was afraid of Sarah Palin being anywhere at, near, or adjacent to the White House.

I think this legislation might do me some favors. In the past year, not only have I not held a job that offered me health care, I have not even had an interview for a position that offered health care. The ability for me to afford health care, or have it offered at an affordable rate through my work, may be years off. If I had an accident, or became ill, or any other unforseeable situation...well, I honestly don't even know what I would do. I try to avoid the thought, because it would be too overwhelming to try to figure out. So am I optimistic about this new bill? Kinda.

Yes, some of the burden of this bill will go on those who already have health care, and that totally blowz, man. But you never know when you might need a little help, and it would be nice to know there's something to back you up.

Now, the ultimate rant about materialism:

"The government takes all my money! That is MY hard-earned money! Harrumph!" Sound familiar? It's the voice of taxpayers in the U.S, sometimes even me. But here's the deal about money, people: it's an idea. It's not magical, it's not a fix-all, and it's not as valuable as people perceive. It can't save people from an untimely death, or old age, or heartbreak. It can buy you stuff, stuff that breaks down and decays and becomes obsolete in months until the next new cool thing comes out. Enough money to live is important. Enough money for something extra is wonderful. Enough money to feel comfortable is almost priceless, really. But beyond that, money is just stuff, stuff that gets you more stuff. The pursuit of more and more and more can make you crazy, and not enough can make you crazy too. I think that once people get out of the habit of thinking that money is God, they'll stop being scared of it and obsessed with it and will learn to live their lives without passing out any time their money might go toward something they don't like.

Long story short: people need to stop complaining, it's giving me a headache.

No comments:

Post a Comment