NOTE: We will continue to meet upstairs at the Old Town Bistro, 3388 NW Byron St. in Old Town Silverdale for both our April and May meetings. It is buffet service.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
by Jo Fox Burr

To be honest, I’m not sure I can tell you the whole truth about the Health Care Reform Bill. I have not read it. I have, though, read a lot about it. While I understand more now, some of it is still foggy to me. Part of this is because much of how it actually works depends on how it is administered at both the federal and state levels. But another part of the fog is because it is a very complicated issue and information available is often contradictory. Yet the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and their Tea Party fan club think they fully understand it all. But then, imagination and fantasy can be very helpful when your ultimate goal is to incite and deceive, simply because you are angry the other side won.

In her article, “Who’s Afraid of Health Care Reform?” (truthdig.com; March 29, 2010), Marcia Alesan Dawkins writes, “By extending what has been a privilege of only those who work or can pay independently to roughly 40 million ‘others’ as a right, the health care reform law has flattened out a social hierarchy…”in the eyes of those protesting it. She thinks this group fears Obama is out to empower minorities at the expense of white heterosexuals simply because he is multiracial. Certainly during the final frenzied moments of the passage of this bill, homophobic, racial, and even sexual heckling toward Pelosi and other members of Congress was prevalent. Our own Sen. Patty Murray received death threats. Even some congressmen lowered themselves to these antics. I think Dawson is right. To have lost the Presidential election to a black man and then have him actually bring about significant change affecting the status quo has to be a slap in the face to those still enslaved by prejudice.

The problem is that even some not so enslaved are falling for the distortions. The messengers of these lies are very skilled. Hate and anger can be very empowering, particularly when playing to a country depressed by such a severe economic downturn. Despite the complexity of the issue, we must find a way to clarify and simplify the truth in order to counter these distortions. Let me try here on an issue which seems to be a rallying point for Tea Partiers.

The movement toward universal health coverage is a concept that bothers these protestors from two opposing angles. One group resents being forced to buy insurance. The other group opposes the idea of using ‘their money’ to pay to insure others. One blogger on the subject actually complained on both scores. He does not have insurance because he is putting enough away should something happen – a premise I fear to be delusional – and does not want to pay for those who do not want to work. Aside from making a false assumption about the unemployed, he fails to consider those employed who do not have and cannot afford insurance.

First, this bill is not providing universal coverage. People can still get hardship waivers, particularly when the cheapest plans available exceed 8% of their income. Second, those with insurance who object to paying for those without it, fail to understand they already pay for the uninsured to get health care now – mostly through far more expensive emergency rooms. Hospitals don’t just eat unpaid bills; they pass them along to those who pay such as insurance companies, who then raise their premiums to cover the increased fees. In fact, the insured pay more now to cover the uninsured than they would if they paid for insurance for the uninsured in the first place. As for those objecting to being forced to get insurance when they can afford it, well they need to grow up and accept their citizenship responsibilities. Their being uninsured affects more than themselves, particularly when they underestimate the cost to cover a catastrophic injury or illness.

Aside from humanitarian concerns, having a well insured society provides economic advantages. With more people insured, there will be more preventive care and fewer costly emergency room visits which means that premiums should drop. As the workforce consequently becomes healthier, our economy will become more efficient and productive. As our labor pool becomes more mobile, knowing health care coverage will follow them wherever they go, new industries, such as clean energy, will have an easier time hiring skilled employees and thus succeeding.

There is a very disturbing sense of violence building among the Tea Partiers. It is driven more by fear and hate than reason, and it is becoming contagious. Health care is a lightning rod, but other issues could well be added to the stew. To paraphrase a familiar saying, only the truth can set us free from this growing menace to the health of our democracy.

NEXT KCDW MEETING – APR 28TH
Focusing on the 26th LD races for this meeting, we have asked both incumbents Rep. Larry Seaquist and Sen. Derek Kilmer. Rep. Seaquist has accepted our invitation and we hope that Sen. Kilmer will as well.

FUND RAISING
As a fund raiser, we will be raffling a Kindle 2 from now until the Kitsap Central Committee Picnic on August 15th. Please contact me if you are interested in buying (or selling! - web support note) tickets. They are $5 each.

The Declaration of Independence states there are certain 'inalienable rights', including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If Americans believe in an inalienable right to life, how can we tolerate a system that denies people lifesaving medications and treatments? Similarly, if Americans believe in an inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness, how can we allow millions of dreams to be smashed by the financial and physical consequences of uninsurance? American Medical Student Association – August 27th, 2009

Jo Fox Burr, Newsletter Editor; foxburr@comcast.net