Published: November 25, 2009 05:08 pm      

Health care reform is strictly a human issue

I have read many letters that were in stark opposition to the health care reform that the Obama administration has been working on.

Some of these letters have attacked the administration saying that such reform borders on socialism. I find the increasing opposition to health care reform amongst the American people somewhat entertaining.

Health care reform was one of the largest agenda issues that Barack Obama spoke about when running for president. I would like to think that this issue alone was one reason that he was elected.

Obviously a majority of the country feels it is important since they elected a leader who promised to make it one of the hallmarks of his administration. Now that he is actually doing what he said he was going to do, (imagine that from a politician) people seem afraid.

Like many when I hear the word “change” from a politician I get a little nervous. President George W. Bush made some changes; (the Patriot Act, sanctioning the torture of prisoners of war, secret prisons in other countries, two major wars).

None of these changes, in my humble opinion, were good ones. They brought about our current economic crisis, (oddly enough blamed on Obama) and have cost many Americans their lives. President Bush was also active in voting against legislation that would have opened health care up to many children across the county.

Though health care reform is no longer a red or blue issue, it’s a human issue. Here are some current statistics regarding health care coverage in the United States: Overall, 14.8 percent (44 million total) of Americans are without health care coverage. Of that 14.8 percent, 19.8 percent are adults and 9.3 percent are children. Nearly 32.1 percent of that total represents Hispanics and other minorities.

These statistics represent those who have no coverage; private party insurance or state funded resources. (Source: CDC www.cdc.gov)

In 2008, a freelance cameraman’s appendix ruptured though by the time he was in surgery it was too late. A self-employed single mother of two was found dead in bed from undiagnosed heart disease. A 26-year-old aspiring fashion designer was feeling fatigued and suddenly died on the bathroom floor.

What did all of these people have in common; they had symptoms of serious disease but didn’t seek health care because they did not have insurance.

CNN estimates in 2008 that 45,000 Americans have died due to lack of health care coverage. The U.S. Institute of Medicine estimates that lack of insurance causes at least 18,000 deaths per year in the United States. (Source: CNN www.cnn.com)

Fallout from medical expenses has plagued American families for too long. Fear of medical expenses has caused thousands and thousands of deaths annually due to refusal of care.

Perhaps it’s time we stop worrying about whether or not our president is escorting his wife to a play and be thankful we have a president that is trying to save American lives, not sacrifice them.

Jeremy Gosnell

Oakland