Fuck Decorum

By this time everyone has heard about Representative Joe Wilson shouting at President Obama during his speech on Wednesday, September 9. I say good for him. No, I do not agree with his viewpoints but it is about time a politician starts acting like a real person instead of the special interest machines that most of them are.

There stands the most powerful man in the world surrounded by 535 of his colleagues and hundreds of other guests and government folk. The individuals surrounded by elaborate decorations, dressed in expensive suits and dresses, with no name individuals protecting those very expensive suits and dressses. "We're here to talk about health care....to come to a consenses that decent health care is not a privelege but a right....no American should go uncovered because they cannot afford health insurance....I am determined to be the last President to tackle this issue." Fuck that, this President and this congress are as much in the pockets of special interest organizations as previous administrations have been.

It is time for our representatives and even ourselves to get off of our god damn ivory towers and admit the only reason we do not have health care for every American is 1. because we do not care about strangers and 2. because we are lazy. Yeah, I do not really want my money paying to take care of someone that never really took care of themselves in the first place but it is the right thing to do. I would rather have my money going to save lives than throw people in prison to rot or sent to foreign lands to protect my freedom by killing others I have never met nor have they ever posed a threat to me.

Get fucking real and get it done right. Thousands have died because we are all too proud to admit we care more about making money than saving lives.

For quite some time I have been considering submitting a piece regarding the "health care debate" that is occurring right now. I have been tardy in my submission because of the amount of coverage out there concerning this topic, most of it irrelevant. I write in support of H.R. 676 written by Congressmen Conyers and Kucinich with support from our own representatives Congresswoman Moore and Congresswoman Baldwin. This bill is appropriately titled “United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act).” Interesting something like this is not already a law considering we live in the "finest country in the world." Would it not make sense for a country that is supposedly a pillar of democracy, hope, and love that all its citizens have reasonable and affordable health coverage? For a country united by ideas such as truth, freedom, and justice there has been nothing but misrepresentations of the truth, debate by those with enough influence (money), and thousands upon thousands of unnecessary deaths because we are too full of ourselves in that the free and open market must flourish with private health insurance robberies and murders.

On 27 July 2009 conservative columnist Bill Kristol admitted on The Daily Show the U.S. government is already running a very effective health care system for those in government and those in the military. This was surprising to hear from him but the real blockbuster came when he stated the American public is not worthy of the same quality of health insurance that our brothers and sisters in the military receive. Apparently to be worthy of taking care of one's self, running around with a bulls eye on your back for a few tours overseas is a prerequisite. If we have a system in place to take care of those in the military why would this system not be satisfactory for the American public? And please, keep your cleverly veiled opinions about making private health insurance companies more money to yourself.

Are you satisfied with your police protection? What about fire protection? Public education? Interstate Highways? Department of Motor Vehicle? State and National Forests? The list goes on and on. Why is there not an outspoken movement to privatize the aforementioned? Why are they so different than health insurance? Are we all communists or socialists, as the conservative right would like us all to believe? Or do we not argue with those services because they are for the greater good of our communities? I would like to believe so.

As a young professional I stand with the unfortunate millions that go without health insurance because of the cost. Because I choose to work in the social services field I make just enough money a month to squeeze by paying my necessary bills. Day in and day out millions work for others and go without health insurance because of a calling to make a difference in the world instead of simply chasing paychecks. No, these people are not soldiers but there is more than one way to serve ones country.

Having access to unquestioned health coverage should not be a question of money or class or privilege. It should be a right for all. I urge you to fight for your right to survive by supporting H.R. 676. Write your representatives and let them know they still work for their constituents, not private business interests.