This post was came about because Jason Dottley put up a comment on his facebook page that I could not ignore. Not what he said, but the comments that followed his post are what actually triggered the post. So I wrote on a topic I promised myself not to post on, because it is a political topic (I try to stay out of politics and religion). I could never keep my opinion to myself though, not on a topic that concerns an entire nation. Like it or not, the following post is purely opinionated, as I am.

I lived in Germany for over 23 years. During this time I did not once have to worry about being bankrupted due to lack of healthcare. It is mandated by the government that all employers insure their employees, no matter how small or large the company is.The company can choose whichever insurance company they want to, no state boundaries, a totally competitive market. Workman’s compensation, in some states here in the US not required due to the amount of employees one employs, is also mandated by all employers (in Germany). Everyone here in the US that is against the healthcare bill is screaming socialism, without really even knowing what it is. In this case it is healthcare mandated by law, so that all individuals within the system can receive healthcare without having to worry about becoming poor in the process, and Germany is a federalist country, not a socialist one.

What bothers me the most about this bill is that the thought and concept behind it is great, we need a general overhaul of our healthcare system. The implementation is in my opinion a little misguided and will not function in its present form. We need enough payers into the system to reap any benefits. We need competitive insurance companies that are not bound by state borders, because a competitive market is a good one that fights for customers and clients. We need employers that are fined if they do not offer healthcare to their employees (and I’m talking HUGE fines here), backing out and expecting the government to take over the heathcare will eventually totally ruin this country. The bill should cover individuals that are not employed, there should no longer be “networks” that will take you and others that won’t. The insurance companies should be happy that they are allowed to even have business after the way they have been treating us for years! Anyone and everyone should be covered and anyone and everyone that is self-employed should get coverage. To make this a real healthcare bill in the sense of what our president was wanting (my belief), it is just fundamental for all to be insured.

This is not Germany,and I’m so very glad to be back home, but a look at their initial healthcare bill would teach this country a bit about taking care of their citizens. The system is quite simple: Everyone is insured. Everyone that employs insures their employees, no ifs, whens or buts. Everyone that is self-employed insures themselves. The unemployed can be covered by a government plan, those on welfare as well. Age is irrelevant (students going to college are insured with their parents as long as they go to college), preconditions are irrelevant. Options to be privately insured should still be offered (meaning that even if you are employed and have health insurance, you can opt out of your employers insurance plan and pick your own, but in this case pay for it yourself). Families are covered by the main earner (so called head of household). A certain amount of co-pay is to be paid quarterly (in Germany they pay 25 Euro each quarter), a certain amount of co-pay (which is capped) is to be paid on meds, hospital stays are to be co-payed with a certain amount (in Germany it is 15 Euro a day, for 14 days max for one year, after that you don’t pay again even if you are hospitalized ten times after that, as long as this is  within that specific year). You can go to any friggin’ doctor you like, as long as you are referred from your family physician. How is this paid for? Easy…taxes, a deducted amount from your wages or salary, the states pay, everyone pays because everyone reaps the benefits. It is not that hard to understand.

One more thing. Fundamentally, it is the right of everyone to be be treated and receive health care treatment. It is not the right of everyone to be covered by healthcare insurance, at least that is what many are arguing with. To be able to take care of everyone in this country and to get this issue off of the table, we as a people have to realize that we all have to pitch in. We complain about bad streets, pay taxes and want them repaired. We complain about so many smaller issues that we want resolved so that our quality of life can be increased. How about we find a common ground to work on, so that the quality of life increases for all? A healthier country means a happier country, ergo possibly less crimes out of desperation. We were once considered the richest and strongest nation. Still, every night there are children that go to bed hungry, go to school hungry, cannot find parents willing to take care of them, we have cases of domestic violence, child abuse, pedophilia, crimes against the elderly (severe cases of abuse here as well), racial discrimination, gender discrimination, hate crimes, and goodness knows what else. Can we please, just this once, see beyond out petty differences and try to get one thing right? For the sake of our children, for the sake of their children, for the sake of our country, please?

Oh, for those using the religious argument saying Christians are all Republicans or Conservatives and against the healthcare bill, shame on you! Are you saying that not one single Democrat is a Christian?  I am extremely Spiritual, consider myself a Christian, am 1/8 Jewish and know in my heart, that the Lord takes care of those willing to take care of others. No matter what denomination, which belief system, political system, or whatever it is you follow or believe in, common sense is something we all should have.

And yes, SMILE doggone it.

It’s all good…eventually.

D.