Yesterday on CNN's "State of the Union" John King interviewed a Wisconsin farmer. His name was Bob Topel and the jist of his comments were that he didn't trust the government to run the health-care program. He mentioned "Cash for Clunkers" and Katrina. He had his health-care through a co-op and didn't really want the government interferring with his program.
I have learned much from watching Rachel Maddow's show, and quickly I went to the "internets" to see who Bob Topel was. I googled him, but nothing of substance turned up there. However, since Mr. Topel is a farmer, I went to www.ewg.org. This site (Environmental Working Group) lists government subsidies to farmers. I entered his name in the database. If he is the same Bob Topel who owns farms in Dodge County and Jefferson County, Wisconsin, he has received $171,165 in farm subsidies from 1996-2006. (http://farm.ewg.org/farm/persondetail.php?custnumber=003862839)
Mr. Topel certainly has a right to his opinion, but why didn't John King do his research? Why didn't King ask Topel about his own link to government programs? If Topel doesn't trust the government to run programs, I wonder how he feels about the Rural Electrification Administration that brought electricity to rural areas and his farm? Or the Highway Department that built the roads so he can transport his milk to market? Or the $17,000 annual stipend he has received from the government for the last 10 years?
I don't begrudge the government's assistance to Mr. Topel and his farming operation, but why do people who receive government assistance have amnesia when it comes to health care? Would he like farm subsidies to be replaced with co-ops? I would like for those who speak against "government-run" health care to examine their own lives and determine just how many programs they take advantage of.
Medicare and Social Security are mentioned most often. But what would we do without the FDA checking for lead in imported goods, the EPA checking the quality of our water, the WIC program supplying healthy food for children and young mothers, the nutrition sites providing meals for seniors, the IDEA programs insuring that people with disabilities are given equal opportunities, the Head Start program giving young children the instruction they need to succeed in school, the disaster programs providing low-interest loans for recovery, the Small Business Administration providing assistance and loans, Pell Grants giving poor students college opportunities, the GI Bill providing educational opportunities to our veterans, Title 9 giving girls an equal chance to participate in sports, and on and on and on.
It's time to call the critics out. When they say they don't trust government-run health care, ask them if they are happy that the government checks their drinking water or provides assistance to young school children or older Americans. Everything the government does is not perfect, but I'm awfully glad they are there to protect our country, to build our roads, to provide for those less fortunate.