And if health care is extended to them, how can we honest say that something “FREE” from the government is going be on par with something that is not free in the marketplace? This is a very simple question and is one I would have expected to be asked from many of the same people who are now just repeating talking points from the White House (The talking points told us a while ago that 47 million people were without health insurance in this country. Today, the talking points have changed to say that now only 32 million people are without health insurance. No explanation of the 14 million reduction. Just read and script and repeat it often).
While driving from a meeting this morning, I really began to think about this. Here we have a government that is telling us that in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in our history, some of the worst employment numbers in history, some of the highest bank foreclosures in our time the number one thing on our minds is health care. I strongly beg to differ.
America has a rich history of people who work hard to achieve their American dream. I have seen people work with all types of ailments where the number one thing on their mind isn’t health care, but having the ability to bring in a steady income with an employer that will give them those benefits. Now mind you, their health is something that is constantly on their minds, but take away their job and you have now made matters worst for them. Now they have to find a way to stay healthy enough while looking for work so food can be on the table.
There are many Americans today who are either out of work or forced to work positions where they are making a fraction of what they used to make. For those who are in that second group, keeping the lights on, food on the table and gas in the car IS the priority. Again, health care is very important (especially if you have small children or taking care of elderly family members) but having a good paying job to actually pay for decent health care is way more important.
That is why most of the noise we are hearing in the media/social networks in support of Obamacare is not coming from people in either one of those groups. Instead, it is coming from people who have a vested interest in this entire national debate. For some, it comes down to just simply making sure that Obama is presented in a positive light because he is our first BLACK President. That is why there has been this specific drive to portray opponents to this bill in the worst possible light (racists). For others, there are direct/indirect benefits to them for pushing more government. The bureaucracies that this bill will produce could potentially create thousands of new government employment opportunities. While most of America is still suffering in this economy, the median income for counties surrounding the D.C. area continue to rise. Also, government employment opportunities in this same area are continuing to be quite plentiful while regions like the Rust or Bible belt continue to suffer.
One of the recurring sentiments I keep hearing from some is “This bill is not perfect, but I’ll take it and hope that it will improve over time.”
Two responses to that
A. How can it “improve” if anybody who has a critical thing to say about the bill is labeled either a “racist” or “hater”. This is a very weak sentiment that attempts to be slightly critical but at the same time not be perceived as a “hater” of the first Black President.
B. As a child I was told that once I hit retirement age that Social Security would take care of me. By the time I hit my 20′s, I was told that I should hope Social Security would take care of me. Now that I am older, I am now being told that Social Security is going broke.
Bottom line, people want work. If health care was really the top priority in the mind of millions of Americans who are now unemployed, then why does the First Lady have to practically beg Americans (many who still have insurance) to make healthy choices? We are told that crime goes up when employment opportunities go down. I have a very hard time making that correlation because people who commit crime do so because they want to for the most part. I have yet to hear about crime going up when health coverage is scarce. Why? Because everybody with two cents to contribute to this debate knows full well that in this economy, jobs come first. But if you listen to the President’s fan base, government knows best. And that “best” is affordable health care. Tell that to the family who is already struggling to make dinner “affordable”.
Factbox: Winners, losers in House healthcare bill
How Does One Afford “Affordable Health Care” If They Are Broke?
by Duane on March 25th, 2010 at 3:05 pmAnd if health care is extended to them, how can we honest say that something “FREE” from the government is going be on par with something that is not free in the marketplace? This is a very simple question and is one I would have expected to be asked from many of the same people who are now just repeating talking points from the White House (The talking points told us a while ago that 47 million people were without health insurance in this country. Today, the talking points have changed to say that now only 32 million people are without health insurance. No explanation of the 14 million reduction. Just read and script and repeat it often).
While driving from a meeting this morning, I really began to think about this. Here we have a government that is telling us that in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in our history, some of the worst employment numbers in history, some of the highest bank foreclosures in our time the number one thing on our minds is health care. I strongly beg to differ.
America has a rich history of people who work hard to achieve their American dream. I have seen people work with all types of ailments where the number one thing on their mind isn’t health care, but having the ability to bring in a steady income with an employer that will give them those benefits. Now mind you, their health is something that is constantly on their minds, but take away their job and you have now made matters worst for them. Now they have to find a way to stay healthy enough while looking for work so food can be on the table.
There are many Americans today who are either out of work or forced to work positions where they are making a fraction of what they used to make. For those who are in that second group, keeping the lights on, food on the table and gas in the car IS the priority. Again, health care is very important (especially if you have small children or taking care of elderly family members) but having a good paying job to actually pay for decent health care is way more important.
That is why most of the noise we are hearing in the media/social networks in support of Obamacare is not coming from people in either one of those groups. Instead, it is coming from people who have a vested interest in this entire national debate. For some, it comes down to just simply making sure that Obama is presented in a positive light because he is our first BLACK President. That is why there has been this specific drive to portray opponents to this bill in the worst possible light (racists). For others, there are direct/indirect benefits to them for pushing more government. The bureaucracies that this bill will produce could potentially create thousands of new government employment opportunities. While most of America is still suffering in this economy, the median income for counties surrounding the D.C. area continue to rise. Also, government employment opportunities in this same area are continuing to be quite plentiful while regions like the Rust or Bible belt continue to suffer.
One of the recurring sentiments I keep hearing from some is “This bill is not perfect, but I’ll take it and hope that it will improve over time.”
Two responses to that
A. How can it “improve” if anybody who has a critical thing to say about the bill is labeled either a “racist” or “hater”. This is a very weak sentiment that attempts to be slightly critical but at the same time not be perceived as a “hater” of the first Black President.
B. As a child I was told that once I hit retirement age that Social Security would take care of me. By the time I hit my 20′s, I was told that I should hope Social Security would take care of me. Now that I am older, I am now being told that Social Security is going broke.
Bottom line, people want work. If health care was really the top priority in the mind of millions of Americans who are now unemployed, then why does the First Lady have to practically beg Americans (many who still have insurance) to make healthy choices? We are told that crime goes up when employment opportunities go down. I have a very hard time making that correlation because people who commit crime do so because they want to for the most part. I have yet to hear about crime going up when health coverage is scarce. Why? Because everybody with two cents to contribute to this debate knows full well that in this economy, jobs come first. But if you listen to the President’s fan base, government knows best. And that “best” is affordable health care. Tell that to the family who is already struggling to make dinner “affordable”.
Factbox: Winners, losers in House healthcare bill