I don't profess to be an expert in politics and/or economics. To be honest, my youthful interest in both topics pretty much faded after spending a mere two weeks in the office of an accountant and the realisation that no matter how much I could agitate for change, the fact is that I live in a seat that safely always votes towards a certain political party and would require a swing of over 6% to change. That's not going to happen.
But healthcare reform has been pushed through the US House of Reps. As someone who's had a few health issues here and there (admittedly, not in a country where sixty two percent of all personal bankruptcy cases cite medical debt as a factor) and having read that John Grisham book about evil Medical Insurance companies that refuse to pay up when someone gets diagnosed with some sort of condition, I can't help thinking "That's great! Maybe something similar can be achieved here!"
Not that the state of health care here could be considered as parlous as it is/was in the US but I find it amazing that this one bill should provide health coverage for 32 million people - more than the entire population of Australia...and still doesn't cover everyone. While I understand the idea of healthcare as a universal right vs. a personal responsibility (why should my taxes pay for the fat person who eats crap and never exercises to have lap band surgery?!), the fact is anyone can get sick - even outwardly perfectly healthy, productive, and attractive young lawyers, optoms, scientists, and medical students get cancer or cancer scares. And the public system kicked in to look after us, which it may not have done in the US.
Well done on bringing in the Change.
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