I have always had a silent motto that I carry around inside me. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Now, this doesn't mean that I don't think that we should constantly be striving to improve our lives, our well being, our surroundings and even our dreams. What I mean by this is if it is working just fine, then leave it alone. Focus instead on things that really truly need to be fixed.
Having a severe form of ra, I do seek medical help with my constant battles. From specialist visits to lab visits to pharmacy visits, I find myself under the care of multiple doctors to address my medical needs. And as this month unfolds, I am constantly reminded of those that can't go to doctors, that can't go to labs and that can't even get past the OTC medications to address the pain of ra. My heart is heavy with this burden. And yes, our medical system is broken and it does need to be fixed.
I can't say I have all the answers but I do know that my personal moral compass tells me this is wrong. We shouldn't have people in this great nation that can not afford medical care and therefore do not get any care at all. To me this is not only a moral and ethical obligation but it is just the right thing to do as a human being and as a nation. And yes, I am fully aware of the cost of doing such an undertaking but to me personally it needs to be fixed.
And waiting until the cost of medical care falls low enough for a person to purchase that care, not only puts them at risk it could very well kill them! And going to an er to seek out basic medical care is not the answer in my book. That not only drives up the cost of medical care it will ultimately drive our hospitals to close their doors entirely. Shuffling the cost of medical care onto hospitals exclusively is not the answer either.
Do I have the answers? Not completely. But what I do know is that we need an open and honest discussion about this very important issue in this country and we need it now. And while we are seeking ways to fix what is obviously very, very broken, we need to open the doors to all that can not afford insurance. Without one's health, one can not be a productive part of society. One can not pay taxes and often one can not work if one wanted to.
So, as we approach this upcoming presidential election, I ask only one thing. Think about what is important to you. Do your research carefully for all your votes and this includes your local and state ones as well. Be sure that your candidates mesh with your moral and ethical compasses. Because as much as I hate to say this, we will be voting for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a very important election.
