Health Care in America: It’s About Opportunity

Over the past few months we’ve all watched the health care debate take turns and twists that we never cold have predicted. From President Obama being seriously compared to the most heinous person of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler, to Joe Wilson’s unprecedented outburst of “You lie” at President Obama reminiscent more of lawmaking bodies in emerging countries than the distinguished delegates of our Congress. At its core, the future of health care has been turned into an ideological battle between liberals, moderates, and conservatives. Should the US have a public health insurance option?

Let’s look at some American ideals for a moment. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The right to life is a bold statement in the context of healthcare. The government currently has public health care options like Medicare, and it’s law that emergency rooms must treat anyone who needs care regardless of whether the patient can pay. Here’s where opportunity comes in. The American Dream is based on people having the opportunity to reach their highest potential through a meritocracy. Denying anyone access to adequate health care in this country could be considered contrary to the ideals set forth by the founding fathers. In short, it’s un-American to deny people basic health care.

The right to the “life” part calls for people to have the opportunity to reach their highest heights. How can they do that if they don’t receive health care? Like eyeglasses help people see more clearly, adequate health care evens the playing field for people to succeed and achieve. Those on the right will say this is akin to affirmative action. Those on the left would say it’s making everything fair so that anyone can achieve their dreams without institutional barriers. If we as citizens of the United States embrace the American Dream and our unalienable rights proclaimed ours by the Declaration of Independence, then everyone in the country should have access to adequate health care. Everyone in this country should have the opportunity to succeed and health care is just like education in this respect. We don’t deny poor children education. We have public schools at all levels because to deny someone access to an education would deny someone the opportunity to succeed. If a student drops out of school, that is his or her choice, but the access to an adequate education is never denied. Why should health care be any different?

Contrary to President Obama’s statement in his recent address to Congress, this is not a moral question at all. It’s about one of the American ideals that built this country. Opportunity. No Republican can say that this country is built on anything less. No Democrat can say that giving someone a chance at success is inappropriate. Therefore, the health care solution must include a public option. Not having one disregards successful models currently used in the U.S. for no good reason.

No one in this country has achieved anything by themselves. Despite Clarence Thomas’ perpetual claim that he pulled himself up by his bootstraps, he didn’t get into college without someone helping him. He didn’t pass every exam without a teaching assistant. And he certainly didn’t get a nomination for the Supreme Court without some help. Last time I checked, he wore eyeglasses. Health care brings help to those who need it to reach their potential, be more productive, and participate in society. A public option brings opportunity to everyone, as it should in the land of milk and honey. Health care in America is about the opportunity to reach higher. And we all need help somewhere along the way.