Student Blog: Thoughts On The Law And The Legal Field
HEALTH CARE REFORM: GOOD OR BAD?
As the nation has become increasingly polarized over the last decade there has been a major divide amongst Americans as to the role the State should play in the economy and in our personal lives. Obviously this is not a new debate, but I believe that now more than ever the lines are clearly drawn.
A friend of mine who works in the health insurance industry recently posted an article about the record profits of several major health insurance companies. Now don’t get me wrong, I am for capitalism and the right of a person or a company to make the most money they can, but when these profits are the result of a system that allows health insurers to raise premiums at will, to drop clients who become ill, and to allow the isurance company to pick and choose the procedures it will or will not cover I just can’t agree.
As someone who no longer has health insurance because my premiums were increased to the point where I could no longer afford them, I may be somewhat jaded. However, I believe that our government is one that exists to solve the problems that face this nation and not one that is elected and paid to maintain the status quo. Passing the recent healthcare bill was not passed easily and it was certainly not done gracefully, but it needed to get done and I for one am glad that it was.
America should be a shining beacon to the rest of the world of what a democracy should look like, but we have fallen behind nations that are far less developed then us in our healthcare and education systems. This is the result of a government that has forgotten what its role is. The government does not exist to ensure that corporations can be profitable but it exists to ensure that every American has the right and ability to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In the last decade this pursuit has become more difficult due to rising costs in healthcare (among other things). What better role for our government than to stop the abuses by these companies and to ensure everyone access to affordable and acceptable healthcare.
Government has a role to play. I believe that this bill is a step in the right direction in fulfilling that role. It is not perfect, but what law is. As one Congressman said, “The last perfect piece of legislation was given at the base of Mt. Sinai on two stone tablets.” No law is perfect, but if we don’t start to move forward we will become stagnant, and that is something that this country cannot afford to be at this point in history.
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