A tool of enslavement.

Think about the 65-year-old who won’t retire because he/she is worried that Medicare won’t cover their current situation, or that they won’t be able to afford their prescriptions. Or they don’t have that problem but they’re worried it could happen and they can’t afford “Medigap” insurance.

What about the person who hates their job, but feels stuck? Someone like, say, me? I’d love to be a paid writer. Should have gone that direction a long time ago, but life interfered. Posting here on DU has really gotten me interested again – recently I even wrote a song. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/... I’ve never done that before. But here I am driving a bus. How about my wife? She spends all her spare time taking jewelry-making classes and making handmade rings, earrings, etc. She’s really talented. People see her stuff at her work and whip out the checkbook.

Either or both of us could make a go at doing what we love for a living, but we’d have to take the health insurance situation into consideration. How much would it cost and would we be able to make enough to afford it? And cover the kids too? Would the coverage be equivalent? How much might the rates go up? Could they cancel us? There’s a lot of uncertainty involved.

If there were universal health care in this country, think of all the people like us who might just dare to attempt their dreams instead of slaving away in unsatisfying careers. Think of the people who would dearly love to have the jobs we might vacate. Think of the elderly people who could enjoy their golden years without constant worry.

Does it really make sense to tie health care to jobs? Do people in other countries just “live off the system” rather than working because they have free health care? Are our citizens somehow lazier than they are?

Universal health care would truly create a rising tide that would lift all boats. It would free many from the slavery of their jobs. It would lift many out of poverty. Oh, and it just might help out with that whole “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” thing.

If you haven’t already, please see “Sicko”.