Wanted: Health Care Reform and Some Profiles in Courage

On September 10, President Obama presented his health care reform proposal to a Joint Session of Congress and the American people. To those Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who were frustrated with the as yet unarticulated health care plan, he provided answers. To those who had disseminated falsehoods about a Senate bill yet to be written or a House bill yet to be reconciled—misinformation about death panels, paying for abortions, subsidies for illegal immigrants, the availability and security of Medicare, President Obama called them what they were: lies.

He called on Americans to be their best, and cited the late Senator Teddy Kennedy’s letter to Obama where the late Senator reminded us that it is an American character trait to have “concern and regard for the plight of others.” Kennedy had spoken of the “character of our country.” Who indeed are we, and what is our character if we continue to ignore the fact that people in this country can die, just because they cannot afford health care?

There are so many problems with our current health care system, and we all know, as the President said, that many of us live “one accident or illness away from bankruptcy” if we have no insurance, poor insurance, or lose our insurance if it is taken from us. Any of us can lose the insurance we have—if we have it—if we move, lose a job, change jobs, or if our pension plans can’t continue providing it.

On MSNBC, one report displayed a graphic showing that 46.3 million people in 2008 were uninsured. And now, it is far worse, in part because of the loss of full-time jobs that provide benefits and the economic meltdown of the past year. For the last 12 months, 17,000 a day have become uninsured. What difference does it make if we have gifted physicians and well-equipped hospitals if one has no access to them because he or she lives in the wrong area, has no insurance, or cannot afford the co-pay and uncovered insurance expenses? (Just today, I learned that my Medicare advantage plan will not cover the flu, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines that my physician wants me to have because I am 65 and a long-time sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis. The cost is around $300-plus that I will have to pay myself or risk the resultant illnesses. I will do it, of course, but on my teacher’s pension, it will be difficult. I am just fortunate that I can manage to afford it at all. I know that there are many more who cannot.)

Despite this obvious and desperate need for reform, despite the obvious fact that the status quo cannot be maintained, the misrepresentations continue. Leader Boehner reiterated the lie about coverage for illegal immigrants the following day. During the speech, Minority Whip Cantor texted throughout. Representative Joe Wilson shouted out, “You lie,” pointing at the President as he spoke. Governor Rick Perry of Texas throws out threats of secession as if we had never fought a bloody Civil War to resolve that issue. Former Representative Tom DeLay and some current members of Congress are “not sure” President Obama was born in the United States, despite ample proof to the contrary. Right wing radio and some Republicans in office have fanned the flames of the incivility of the August town hall meetings. Few have even bothered to distance themselves from those who liken the President to Hitler and Mao or to those who claim the President is not the president because he was not born in the United States, despite more than adequate proof. They do nothing to distance themselves from those who shout they want their country back or that they are not “represented” because the person for who they voted did not win. Yes, these voices were loud, but what were they saying that made sense? Others at the town hall meetings who wanted answers heard angry shouting and insipient madness from some of the audience--and occasionally from the congressperson holding the meeting--when they wanted answers.

It has been nearly a century since Teddy Roosevelt called for health reform, and sixty-six years since John Dingle, Sr. introduced a bill for comprehensive health reform in 1943. The issues Congressional committees are working on now are the same issues. To those who say that Congress is “rushing” on the health care reform issue, I say, “Are you kidding me?” More than half a century, minimum, is not speedy in anyone’s universe.

Finally, I would ask all the Congress people who seem to be opposed to anything interfering with the profits of the insurance companies by opposing things like insurance exchanges, the very things that guarantee the kind of health care they enjoy, to give up their own insurance if they think it is such a bad idea. If they sincerely oppose the concept, it’s only right that they should. Isn’t it only right that the insurance available to Congress people be available to us as well.
Members of Congress need to remember that they work for their constituents’ well being, not for their own election. Where are the Profiles in Courage in the 21st century? It is up to them to step up and do what is right and just, not only that which is easy and expedient. I say to them, “Be worthy of the office you hold.” And while I’m at it, “Behave like adults, not like petulant children willing to have a hissy fit if you don’t get 100% of what you want. There are 535 of you representing 50 very diverse states. You all have to give a little.” Everyone needs to be more civil, more thoughtful, more willing to walk that mile in another’s shoes.

Let us all try to be worthy of the country in which we live. Let us all try to live up to the “character of our country,” as the late Senator Kennedy asked us to.