Health care

*This is a response to an email my cousin sent my family about the difficulties his immigrant wife had with our red-tape-happy government. Because of this, he believes a national health care system is impossible. I disagree,



Hi family, Kristi here. I just arrived home from Thunder Bay, Ontario, where my friend and I stayed with a local Canadian family-- two pastors and their son. We were connected via an online community called Couch Surfing. This is a great resource for young people looking to be travelers and not tourists, all for free!*

Anyhow, during a conversation about the striking differences between American and Canadian governance, arose the subject of universal health care. Of course the two states are disparate in population and history and geography, resulting in a wholly other ideology. However.

We are more alike than not.** And if it is a representative democracy that America supports, a government of and for the people, than these similarities should not be ignored. Indeed, if change is to happen, cannot be ignored.

Just as we feel justified in encouraging other countries to follow our lead when we've got it right (college system, bill of rights, etc.), we must take our own advice.

It is only wise to listen to our friendly neighbors to the north. For if they, our culturally similar, equally moderate counterparts can manage to supply everyone - not just the lucky ones - with health care, so too can we.

For example: Alcohol sales in Canada are regulated by the state. They have a beer store and a liquor store, and both are heavily taxed. This tax surplus goes towards their national health system.

Yes this is only one example. But it is simple steps such as these that work towards fostering systematic change.

How many of us have a high school diploma? What about access to resources such as the police force, libraries, and even the right to free legal counsel? These are public amenities, ones tax paying Americans take for granted. As they should.

So why is health care not among these inalienable rights?


Facts: http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/ http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml


*Our stay really was wonderful. They opened their hearts and home. And fed us a delicious dinner to boot! To me, this kind of cultural exchange is the best way to gain perspective on your own worldviews.

**Especially us in the Midwest! Thunder Bay looked eerily like Minot. Coincidence? I think not. Conspiracy?

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postscript: I know that the task of reforming a behemoth of a system is HUGE, but we've got to. We just do. I also have some hunches about why blue collar Americans are so wary of change, especially when the change is for people like them. As in, poor. Those will come another day, friend. Let me know what you think.