Health Care

I bet hearing that term makes you turn your TV off. We have had this health care debate running in Congress since the beginning of summer. It is the single biggest issue facing Americans right now. On average, people pay out 17% of their paycheck for health care. I know that this issue is drilled into the brains of all of us who watch way too much TV news. In Minnesota, we have two issues with health care. First is, of course, the congressional bill– there is an option for states to pull out of the public option. Second is GAMC, or General Assistance Medical Care.

Governor Pawlenty took his red pen and crossed out the money set for GAMC. This one moment in time changed the course of medical care in Minnesota. This move kicked 30,000 Minnesotans off their health care. GAMC is for single adults making very minimal income. These are the folks who need the health care that only GAMC will provide. I always think of the people living with mental health issues. They need their meds– I wouldn't want to see people suffer because of lack of meds. GAMC is costing you (yes, you) less money then the alternative: emergency room care is not cheap for anyone.

What we need in this country and in the northland is preventative health care. People need to have a checkup once in a while. We need affordable health care for every American. We need the public option and we need to take care of EVERY American. Now please argue with me. I am up for it. Over the summer, TPAC (Twin Ports Action Coalition) did a rally for health care. While we were going back to the cars, a woman screamed out her vehicle and said that health care was not a human right. In a debate, I would have told her that it is in Article 25 of the United Nations declaration of human rights.

Ok, time to get off my soap box.