Bob Robinson for State Representative of Eaton County: Healthcare Division is Path to Failure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 24, 2009 -- Emotions blaze as the debate over health care reform continues in our nation’s capitol, our state capitol, and in our local communities.

On the left are those who believe that our health care delivery system is shattered. That because of the high cost of insurance (which has doubled in the last nine years), adequate health care is out of reach to average families. Some form of public health care, a “public option” or “single pay” plan they reason, will reduce health care costs, and protect families from the financial trauma of catastrophic illness. Reform, they concede, will provide access to affordable health coverage for all Americans.

On the right are those who believe that change is avoidable. The best way to provide quality health care, they say, is through a competitive private system, and that a public wellness plan would force Americans onto a government proscribed plan while the private health insurance industry collapses. Right wingers, shouting down legislators in community forums, claim that public health care could enable our government to interfere with the relationship between doctors and patients and limit an individual’s choice.

Both sides, laden with special interest money, dig in, adding to the trench warfare-like partisanship that has gripped our state and federal governments and stalled progress toward a solution to the problem.

Caught in the middle are families with real problems. Like Amanda with two small children ages two and four whose husband has lost his job. Forced off health insurance both her babies are now unprotected and without health care coverage. Or John who has lost health insurance for his family of seven because of an on-the-job injury that has forced him onto disability. The family will undoubtedly lose their home and college educations will be sacrificed.

When did we Americans become so extreme? So divided? Where is the spirit of unity that built this nation? Do we continue to squabble with each other while our fellow countrymen and women and their children suffer?

It’s not a matter of right wing or left wing because the eagle needs both wings to fly. It has been said that: "No tree would be so foolish as to have its branches fight amongst each other." Whether it’s health care reform, our economic crisis, or balancing our deficit budgets it’s only through cooperation, compromise and solidarity that we will successfully address our problems. When our state and federal leaders finally push aside political agendas and personal bias, and reassert that old American belief: “United we stand, divided we fall,” maybe then we can move forward in putting people to work, keeping our children healthy, and remaking the American dream.

House District 71