Brett Hillsberg · @BrettH104
14th Sep 2011 from Twitlonger
I rarely see something in politics that deserves such a (relatively) long response. But last night at the Republican debate, Wolf Blitzer asked Ron Paul what should happen to a healthy man in his 30's that chose not to buy health insurance. Ron Paul replied along the lines that it is not the government's responsibility to help someone who chose to proceed without taking pre-cautious measures to buy health insurance and part of his freedom was this choice.
Mr. Paul, if life was so simple, we would not need debate, political parties, and differing interests and opinions. However, these entities do exist and for a good reason. Let me ask you, Mr. Paul, what if this hypothetical person could not afford the expensive cost of health insurance because he was trying to save money so he can send his children for college, or if he was behind on mortgage payments, or if a loved one was previously in an accident and he decided to let the policy lapse because he needed to pay his share of the co-payments. Americans are well aware that their health is not something to leave to chance, and if you don't have a policy, most likely you do not have room in the budget for it.
Back to the question: should someone who wasn't able to afford health insurance for any legitimate reason be left to die by his fellow countrymen? Should the government turn a blind eye to a good citizen and a hard worker? Should a wife be widowed and a child left fatherless? Is your view of "freedom" being left alone when you need something from your country after you have given back to it your entire life? All you see is a man who made a bad decision and is suffering the consequences of such. I see a man who dedicated his life to his loved ones and could be the epitome of what every man wishes to make of himself, being so selfless that he would put his life on the line to make sure those he cared about got what they needed. You don't live though his memories, the lessons he taught to people, his service to his country and countrymen, and the differences he made in a person's life.
Than again, this is all hypothetical of course. I don't know the man who is suffering has done with his life. I'm only stating the possibilities that you would never know about. Either way, a good man or not, under your plan his short life's story would end in tragedy.