Health Care Reform: A Human Issue -- Not A Political Issue
Published: 2010-07-11 19:14:55By: Gary Stein | Huffington Post | March 24, 2010
"The anticipation is unbearable...! I hope it lasts." Those were the words spoken by Gene Wilder as the chocolatier Willie Wonka, from the words written by the children's book author and former M-5 agent, Raold Dahl. There are some who feel that way about health care reform. Properly crafted messages made it quite divisive. And just like other divisive issues, politicians can make political hay from it and use it to draw votes, without ever trying to resolve the problem, or attempting to kill any chance of progress.
The abortion issue has been the same juggernaut in the same way for many years. Whether you are Pro-life or Pro-choice (or whatever terms each side uses to spin the issue their way), having the debate around is better for elections than solving the problem and going about the business of trying to solve other 800-pound gorillas in our rooms. Too many pro-life candidates know that if Roe v. Wade was appealed successfully, they would lose a valuable plank in their election arsenal to divide and conquer their states and districts.
And so it appears that the drive to appeal the new Health Care reform bill has begun and it's Déjà vu all over again. I am not an advocate of abortion or an antagonist. It is a terribly emotion-charged issue, especially when you are personally involved, and I can easily see the reasons behind both viewpoints. But I believe in a woman's right to choose because I have seen the devastating effects of unwanted and/or medically-challenged pregnancies (some of the major causes of infant mortality). Situations involving the mother and fetus should dictate what she decides and does, not law.
I see the signs. "Choose life." Two words. Both important. First word, "Choose." The ability to choose one's destiny should be an innate right, given freely in a democratic and free society to its citizens, provided that it does not interfere with the rights and safety of others. Second word, "Life." This is an entity we all have, although I feel that we should always consider that quality of life should often trump quantity, and sometimes we are stuck in the terrible and uncomfortable position of choosing for someone else, without a true knowledge of what that person would truly want, if given the choice. If a person who is strongly pro-life or pro-choice wants to choose life for a medically-challenged infant who may not live long or well, they should have that right to choose. At least this country allows us that choice, to stay with your convictions. Imagine a country where you are only allowed one child. A second full-term pregnancy is not an option. It exists. Look it up. And so I see those who are vehemently pro-life as obstructionist to those who disagree. Have them watch the horror that is the life of a Tay-Sachs baby, as well as the agony of the parents. For some circumstances, not being born may be more merciful and dignified, but at least we have the choice as parents, even though it is a horrible choice to have to make.
I sincerely doubt that few faced with the decision of abortion takes that decision lightly or with a laisse-faire attitude. More often, the decision is an agonizing one. But at least it exists. We had two medically challenged children, although we did not know it until after they were born. Even though the co-pays and co-insurance that it cost to keep them alive and healthier bankrupted us and took our retirement, our home and the girl's college funds, they are both healthy young girls, even though they face medical challenges in their futures, which we hope medical science will relieve. Thus the conundrum. I would have hated to make the decision before they were born and possibly hated myself for making it. None of us have crystal balls to make that decision easier.
I also understand the feelings of those who are against federally-funded abortion, such as the strong-willed Mr. Stupak. I can see that he is a man of his convictions, and that he saw the wheat thru the pile of chaff when he voted for Health Care Reform. If you do not believe in abortion, then you should not have to have your tax dollars go towards something that you feel deeply against. I feel the same way about the war in Iraq, and I know that our taxes will never pay that debt in my or my children's lifetimes.
Full story