In the end, there is enough for everyone

Visualize a day 50 years from now when a child of 12 asks the question, “Grandpa, why do we call medical insurance for all Obamacare”?

Grandpa responds, “Years ago a great president saw the need for everyone to have medical insurance. He pushed it in spite of strong opposition. We honor him to this day.”

“Who had medical insurance before that?”

“Everyone who worked for government, a big corporation or had a job associated with a strong union had insurance. Every executive received insurance as part of his pay and those who could afford it had insurance. People over 65 had government insurance. In fact the majority of Americans had insurance.”

“If most had it, why was it so hard to sell it for everyone?”

“The majority believed that if all had insurance their service would be less. There might not be enough to go around. Some poor did with out and then in big cities; they would need to go to county welfare hospital. Those receiving service through a welfare system did not compete with main stream.”

“Why was insurance coordinated through the job?”

“Years ago when our government cared about workers and unions were strong, most people got medical insurance through the job. The system was designed to capitalize on what had been common. But time changed. Unions no longer had power and large corporations could dictate to politicians. Company could make more money if they did not need to provide medical coverage so many started to discontinue the practice.”

“Did all poor people want coverage?”

“No! For many it was better to go broke and on welfare if there was sickness. They did not want to pay monthly premiums needed to maintain coverage.”

“What other reasons caused so many people to be against the new law?”

“We all understood that if everyone had access to medical care the cost of the care had to go up. Many people just did not want to see more money spent on medical care. It was a law which means government had to be involved in enforcing it “

“Grandpa, how did it all work out?”

“This is a great nation and we built more facilities and trained more people so in the end there was plenty for everyone. Those against it have passed on. The party against it claims they were just misunderstood.”

HARVEY PINE

Sandpoint