Top Ten Reasons Why the Public Health Care Option Should Be Passed

Health care is the hot topic these days and it's amazing how much false information is out there regarding this subject. Even though major news outlets keep printing and reporting on all the wonderful things about a public health care option our ears stay firmly tuned to the opposition. Of course being American's it is hard to turn a deaf ear to words like socialism, government control, and publicly financed abortion. Of course being responsible citizens it's a good idea to listen to both sides and weigh the validity of each argument. In this particular case the opposition has no real argument against a public health care option and therefore has filled the airwaves and newspapers with so many lies and contradictions that everyone's head is spinning. Let's take a more positive look at why the public option should pass.

Reason Number One:

The Public Option is an OPTION. For those of you that are a little slow on the uptake option means it is a choice. It may not be the best choice for you and that is fine. You may choose another option that works better for you. For the millions of American's that do not have access to affordable medical insurance the public option is a fine choice. Let me restate this once again because it seems people just don't get it. This is an option, a choice, a decision that you get to make.

Reason Number Two:

The public option, contrary to what you have been told, is NOT a FREE option. It is however a more affordable option for American's that just can't afford the rising costs of health insurance. Will there be some people that pay little or nothing for health care using the public option. Of course! There are already millions of American's that take advantage of free health insurance. We call it Medicaid. The public option is simply going to include those American's that are not poor enough for Medicaid but lack the financial resources to pay hundreds of dollars every month for medical insurance. Tax payer dollars will finance the public option to a degree but will eventually be almost fully supported by those that use it. But much like Medicare and Social Security, which are widely accepted, the individual cost will be minimal compared to the benefit of having a healthy society.

Reason Number Three:

Socialism is not communism! Is a public option technically a socialist program? Sure it is! Of course we have embraced social programs for decades with little or no opposition especially in recent years. Social Security is probably the most socialistic program I can think of. The word social is right in the name. This is a program instituted more than 60 years ago. It has worked for millions and we have never come close to having a communist government. Everyone that works contributes to Social Security and everyone that lives long enough has the opportunity to benefit from it. The public option is no different. It works for those that need it most.

Reason Number Four:

Medical Insurance companies have obtained far too much power. Our very lives are in their hands. If history has taught us nothing, it has taught us that allowing an industry to have so much power over the people and government is dangerous to say the least. When you allow a single industry to retain so much control over something as essential as medicine you open the door to slavery. No, not the kind of slavery where you are chained and forced to work in the fields but the kind of slavery that steals your freedom to live a healthy life, unless you get out in the fields and maintain the status quo. The bottom line is that you will owe your soul to the company store and in this case the company store has sold you your right to live.

Reason Number Five:

Medical Insurance agencies are basically a middle man. Middle men drive up the costs of whatever goods they are selling. In reality that is their job. The amazing thing here is that if you have insurance and you go to the doctor, hospital, etc... your will is double that of someone with no insurance. This is why your montly premiums are so high! So in reality you are paying more now than you will under the public option to cover the uninsured. If you don't believe this is true try it out sometime. Next time you have to make a trip to the ER tell them you don't have insurance and wait until you get your bill. Then call the hospital and let them know you were mistaken about not having insurance and give them your policy info. Wait until you get the revised bill. I assure you it will at least double the bill you received when you were uninsured. You may in fact find that you have the same out of pocket costs either way.

Reason Number Six:

America is sick. It's true. We have become an very sick society over the past few decades. The rising cost of medical care has caused many to ignore problems until they become so large it is either too expensive or impossible to do anything about it. This has a two fold effect on us as a society. First of all it makes us less productive. Considering the current economic climate the last thing we need is anything less than 100% productivity. Also it is very expensive for tax payers when so many uninsured people are sick. I can assure you that nobody is loosing money on the sick except for the federal budget. By the way that federal budget is our money. Money that should be used to build roads, feed the hungry, create jobs, etc... A public option would allow everyone the ability to stop a serious illness before it starts. Seeing the doctor after you have a heart attack costs more than double the cost of annual check-ups and medicine to keep you from having a heart attack. This example holds true in almost every illness known to man.

Reason Number Seven:

Over 65% of the population supports a public health option. This is a huge number. George Bush won the presidency with 51% of the vote and considered it a mandate. Under this type of thinking 65% should be considered a demand. The public has a tendancy to be right about these sort of things and it is high time that the politicians started listening to the people rather than Blue Cross! This of course holds true in general when it comes to passing laws. Just the fact that the insurance companies are against a public option should be reason enough to support one.

Reason Number Eight:

Health care in general needs a face lift. The public option is only a part of the overall reform that needs to take place to bring us up to date concerning health care. There are many pieces to the puzzle that will form the new picture of health care in America and they are all necessary in order to ensure that health care works for everyone. Costs must be lowered, quality must be raised, and prevention must be the primary focus of health care in the 21st century. Our current health care system just doesn't work any longer. Just like an automobile if it aint broke don't fix it but when it's a crumpled up mess that has no possibility of being repaired it's time to trade out for a newer model. That newer model may not be as comfortable at first but eventually it turns out to be a much smoother ride.

Reason Number Nine:

One word, morality! That's right morality. It seems so many of us are caught up with the idea of what is the morally correct thing to do. Well the morally correct thing to do is to take care of each other. I don't think anyone could give much argument for that one. It isn't just about you! It's about us. All of us working together to make a better society for our children. This includes making a healthier society for everyone. Opening up the door for quality medical care is an essential factor when it comes recreating a great society. We owe this to our parents, our children, our neighbors and our friends. We owe it to each other to ensure that we are all as healthy as possible.

Reason Number Ten:

The public option will be a self supporting program that enriches the lives of everyone in the country. The middle class will grow by leaps and bounds if the cost of medical care is reduced. A large middle class is prime indicator of a viable economy. A public option will free up money that can be invested, used to open new businesses, used to pay for college tuition, used to purchase goods, and even allow some of us to start saving again. These of course all capitalist ideals rather than socialistic. So a social program like universal medical insurance will contribute to our capitalist society by allowing us to grow our economy while still caring for the sick.

In the end there will be sweeping health care reform. This reform will include a public option for those that require it. No longer will insurance executives make medical decisions instead of doctors. There will be a fair and equal ability to have a health care plan that is affordable. Medical care will be streamlined in order to cut out the attempts to save money by the insurance companies at the cost of patient lives. It's time to pass health care reform that includes a public option. I can't state this enough so here it goes one more time. OPTION means CHOICE. You don't have to use the public option but you will probably want to.