We the People: Government, the general welfare, and health
Mary Beth Callie
Issue date: 11/24/08 Section: Perspectives
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
----
A few weeks ago, when preparing to speak at the Conscience at the Ballot Box forum, I emailed my mom about her health insurance plan. She's 64 and the mother of nine children (I'm the oldest). My mom responded that she was on a Blue Cross Blue Shield individual health insurance plan that my dad's small business (pediatric private practice) covers. Her plan cost $1,250 a month, with a $5000 deductible. On election day, Nov. 4, my mom turned 65 and joined my dad on Medicare. Her monthly charge is now $250. As she wrote in the email, "a big Difference; I can't wait!"
My mom lives in Tucson, AZ, but imagine that she lives in Berkeley or West Highlands neighborhoods around Regis, where the average household income ranges from $46,000-50,000 per year, according to census data.. $15,000 a year, with another $5,000 deductible, would be almost half a family's income, on top of a mortgage, transportation, food, utility, education, and other costs.
My parents were able to afford this expensive insurance to protect them against catastrophic costs. But, what about the 45 million (including 8.9 children) who can't? Or the almost double that number who are underinsured? Those who go into debt, or even bankrupt, trying to pay their bills?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
----
A few weeks ago, when preparing to speak at the Conscience at the Ballot Box forum, I emailed my mom about her health insurance plan. She's 64 and the mother of nine children (I'm the oldest). My mom responded that she was on a Blue Cross Blue Shield individual health insurance plan that my dad's small business (pediatric private practice) covers. Her plan cost $1,250 a month, with a $5000 deductible. On election day, Nov. 4, my mom turned 65 and joined my dad on Medicare. Her monthly charge is now $250. As she wrote in the email, "a big Difference; I can't wait!"
My mom lives in Tucson, AZ, but imagine that she lives in Berkeley or West Highlands neighborhoods around Regis, where the average household income ranges from $46,000-50,000 per year, according to census data.. $15,000 a year, with another $5,000 deductible, would be almost half a family's income, on top of a mortgage, transportation, food, utility, education, and other costs.
My parents were able to afford this expensive insurance to protect them against catastrophic costs. But, what about the 45 million (including 8.9 children) who can't? Or the almost double that number who are underinsured? Those who go into debt, or even bankrupt, trying to pay their bills?