Justine Limpic

I have never watched C-SPAN…until today. I felt compelled to watch our Congress debate for last minute calls to action regarding the historic Health Care Reform Bill. I find it quite comical how immature these “professional” politicians can behave. That being said, I have been able to solidify my opinion even stronger than it stood before today.

Why do I disapprove of this health care bill? For many reasons. Most of which I have a difficult time verbalizing.

First, I do not see the need to rush this bill through congress. It is obviously a one-sided bill with none of the Republican party in favor of. If the leaders of our country feel the need to make these changes why don’t they really sit down and try to work with one another and come to an agreement incorporating ideas from both sides of the aisle. No more back-room deals please. That is immoral in my opinion. I’m just afraid that these politicians and our president have such a strong desire to do something that no president or congress before has been able to that they irreverently ignore the people of the of America.

It can all be fixed if we would just take a little time to be more responsible for ourselves. No one person needs to take care of another. We all should learn how to become financially and personally responsible for ourselves. Is your argument that health care is too expensive? Work harder! Take on more responsibility at your current job. Take on a part-time job. Spend less/Save more! Don’t go out to eat. Differentiate between needs and wants. Cancel your digital cable. Melt your credit cards. Put money away into savings. Don’t spend beyond your means! If we had been doing this from the beginning the housing market might not be in crisis either (but that’s another debate for another day). Eat healthy! And exercise. Maintain a certain level of health. I mean, heck, if you work hard enough to save enough money in your lifetime for emergencies (which everyone should do out of common sense) and you maintain good health, you shouldn’t even need health insurance. You can pay as you go!

If we were to heed all of the above advice we certainly wouldn’t be complaining cost. We’d be making enough money and saving enough money to pay our premiums. And if we were in relatively good health thanks to good old fashion hard work (diet and exercise) we wouldn’t be suffering from elevated premiums due to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.

When did we turn into a country operated on the basis of entitlement? We are a country built on freedom, individualism, and hard work. I work hard and I am responsible with my money so that I might be able to make decisions for myself. Because of that I can afford health insurance…as well as cable TV, satellite radio, a gym membership, and a car. No one gives me these things or even offers them to me at a discounted rate. I earn them on my own merit! I don’t expect anyone else to give them to me. Certainly not the federal government. I know that I am the only one who can determine whether or not I will have these luxuries. The government doesn’t provide us with affordable car insurance so that we might be able to drive a car. If we can’t afford it we ride the bus or some other means of transportation.

I will be the first to say that I used to expect my employers to provide my health insurance. But then I realized that it was called a “benefit” for a reason. It was not something they had to provide. It was something used to entice employees to the company. NO employer HAS to provide you with health insurance. At least I don’t think they should have to. You know what the benefit to buying your own health coverage is? You don’t have to worry about a laps in coverage due to losing your job. You’ll have it whether you’re employed or not. And you don’t have to pay for coverage you will not use because it happens to be in the employers plan. I can choose my co-pay, the type of coverage, the amount of deductible, etc.

While there is not much I can say about the subject of pre-existing conditions today because they are, in fact, pre-exisitng, I revert back to my earlier point of being responsible with your money. If we have been financially responsible all of our lives we might be able to afford to care for the medical needs that pop up out of our own pockets. That’s just a foreign concept to most people though. Health insurance is supposed to pay for all of my medical needs!! Actually, back in the day it was only intended for emergencies…not the common cold. For children born with medical complications, perhaps this should fall onto the financial responsibility of their parents. Pre-existing conditions are a touchy subject and I really don’t have an answer for it, but I know that I don’t want to have to pay for the health problems of everyone else.

Because most of us have been able to experience a dependence on health insurance it will be difficult for most to even consider paying out of pocket a concept, let alone an option. You know that big number the politicians have been spouting out…that 30 some-odd million American’s are uninsured…most neglect to tell you that they choose to be uninsured. Don’t let those big scary numbers make you feel sorry for people. I most definitely do not want my tax dollars to be used toward insuring someone who has no desire to be insured!

Under this bill “children” would be covered on their parents policies until the ripe old age of 26. Why, can you tell me, would that be one of the big selling points? If you ask me, that is simply delaying maturity - something that many young adults today are already lacking. Let your “kids” be grown adults with real jobs so that they can afford to pay for their own insurance. There is simply no need for them to mooch off of their parents until they’re nearing 30.

I wish that I could have said it all more eloquently, but alas, what is said is said.

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