Equality is a funny word, when you stop and think about it. We’re all all about equality, in the general sense.
And then we start applying conditionals.
“Oh, equality? Hells to the yeah, the genders/races/classes should absolutely be equal!” And then you bring up subsidized childcare so women can work and better funding for schools with racial divides that are falling behind and the pay gaps between genders, races, and economic statuses, and suddenly equality doesn’t sound so great to some folk.
So they talk about opportunity- “Well, everyone has the same chances in life! It’s what you do with it!”
But do they? Do they really? Consider that a 19 year old white man will certainly see a different level of consequences than a similar charge against a 19 year old black man. That’s not equality or the same level of opportunity. Systemic racism is a well researched, documented, and for most folk, acknowledged problem in our country.
I used to believe those things, too. I used to believe that health care was a privilege and not a right. Back in the time when I felt I had to push others down to feel that I walked tall, it wasn’t my problem that those other people over there couldn’t land a good enough job to have health care benefits- it was their fault for not trying harder, not working harder, for choosing to be complacent. Because if I didn’t believe that, it was the same as admitting I was one fuck up away from being there myself.
And then, heaven help us all, I grew the fuck up. I realized that I am not, in fact, immortal, that my body will, in fact, weaken, sicken, and eventually it will part ways with the rest of me.
I watched my friends and family struggle with finding care they could afford, and sometimes fail. I have seen dreams wither and die against the onslaught of medical bills- bills that we all know are wildly fucking inflated so insurance and pharmaceutical companies can continue to turn around record profits.
Why? We’re supposed to be the richest, most advanced country on the planet- why do we settle for this? Why are we okay with our own people literally begging for money to cover medical expenses? These people are begging for their lives.
As my husband points out- we already wait for months for care in a lot of cases. We settle for the cheapest, closest clinics we can find when we get sick, because then at least we will be seen- the wait for a General Practitioner if you can find one accepting patients and if they are within your network is months long here in New Mexico.
And we’re among the lucky ones.
Does that sound like a people committed to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to you? Yeah, me neither.
We can’t change people’s prejudices overnight, it’ll take generations of teaching and reinforcement for equality for genders and races. I don’t honestly believe we’ll ever destroy the class barriers- but this health care thing? This we can and should do.
Part of what galls me is that the people who are profiting off the system as it exists claim to love our country and our people like no one else can. They are going to say a lot of scary things to try and turn us against considering health care a right. They are going to call it socialism and communism, and encourage you to feel like it’s okay to push someone else down so you can feel like you’re doing well in life.
But remember this- even if you’re among the lucky ones, all it takes is for one heart attack, one stroke, one accident, one tumor to change everything for you. Closing the door on thinking about it doesn’t safeguard you.
Don’t you want that security of knowing that if something terrible that medicine can help or cure does happen to you, that you can get the care you need? And don’t you want that not just for yourself, but for everyone that lives here?
There was a time when we achieved great things, wrought great changes, and led the way for the rest of the world- can you imagine what we could do if we didn’t have over half of our population struggling with what’s going to happen if they get sick or trying to help someone in their world that is sick? If we all knew that when the worst comes, we will receive the best possible care without question?
I can, and I think it’s something worth fighting for. I think it’s feasible, when you consider all the inefficiency and redundancy that exists in the system we have today. To have that peace of mind, I’m fine with paying more in taxes, even if it equates to more than what I pay in the name of health care in general today.
I also recognize, and respect, that your mileage may vary. The whole reason I’m writing this, though, is not just to entertain myself- I’m hoping that if you’ve followed me this far, that you’re willing to examine your own thoughts and feelings. Whether we agree or not, I think it’s important to take your convictions for a walk every now and again, air them out, see if you still really feel the same way.
Cause only mushrooms grow really well in the dark.
