Last night I sat on my front steps with my neighbor, watching our kids play. As she has many times over the past couple of years, she mentioned in passing some issues that someone else, in this case her father, has with Obama. I know she is looking for reassurance and education for herself, but always asks things in reference to others (this time Dad, last time an opinion in the local newspaper). I read the diaries here daily, and consider myself to have a basic understanding of politics. However, I generally avoid discussing politics with people, since I don't feel that I am as good at expressing my views as many others, and I can never remember enough facts to make a convincing argument; but I couldn't let this one go, so I tried my best.
She said that she had been visiting her father over the weekend, and found a printed email about Obama's health care plan "teaching elderly people how to kill themselves." Like I said, I'm not as quick to remember all the facts as some, so here is what I said:
- Many people are worried that we will have to prove our treatment-worthiness to the governement in some way, but we are already having to prove it to insurance companies in order to recieve treatment.
- Medicare is a government-run program, and Congresspeople are all using government-run healthcare plans, and while everything is not perfect, they're all doing fine.
- Canada, the UK, and France all have governement-run healthcare, and there aren't a disproportionate number of the elderly trying to off themselves in those places.
- The proposed plan does not take away an individual's existing health coverage. If Dad wants to keep what he has, he can.
She seemed to understand what I was saying, and I'm sure there are a lot more things I could have told her, but that was all I could think to say on the spot. It surprises me that anyone would think to ask me for clarification on political issues, but I'm glad she does. I also printed out today's diary by bonddad, Why End of Life Counseling is Imperative, for her, as I think this topic may be what she was referring to in the first place (sorry, I don't know how to link to his diary - this is my first diary here). Any other suggestions for future conversations (and review of my tags) would be appreciated!