I just returned, not half an hour ago, from La Hacienda, our local Mexican restaurant, in the little town of Holdrege, in south-central Nebraska. I noticed a sign on the window at the entrance that just brought the whole issue of the need for the public option, single payer, health coverage in this country of ours.
I don't know these people, nor the specifics of their plight, but I can imagine that hundreds, if not thousands, of similar signs are being hung from one side of America to the other. How many families must be destroyed by the crushing debt incurred by those guilty of nothing other than the misfortune to fall ill, and not have the resources to afford the profit driven healthcare available in this country - the "best healthcare in the world," according to some.
It does little good to have it if you can't afford it.
Earlier today, I was in the local McDonalds and ran into a fellow that is known throughout our community as a very staunch supporter of our troops. He made a comment about how terrible it is that, while we have kids dying in the wars overseas, there are those that want to waste our money on "healthcare." He knows that I am a veteran, he knows that I served longer than he did, so there was no doubting where I stand on the issue of supporting our troops, But, I don't think he was prepared for the lecture he got from me.
I told him about the Harvard report that states 45,000 Americans each year die due to the lack of sufficient healthcare coverage. I pointed out that it is the equivalent of fifteen 9-11 attacks each and every year. I said that if the purpose of having our troops overseas is to protect American lives, then what about the 45,000 Americans that were left unprotected right here in our country?
I think he went home with something to ponder. That, or he went home to mutter about that damned Communist Osborn guy that he ran into in McDonalds.