Should Texans have health care?

The article, “Ron tackles heath care,” published on the Ron's Texas Politics and Gov'ment Stuff blog on November 23, 2009, talks about a health care bill. The author has chosen one of the most controversial issues in the country, heath care, and one of the most affected states is Texas. According to the article, “Texans trying to survive without health insurance,” published on the Austin American Statesman, “5.7 million: About 25 percent of the population of Texas is uninsured, a higher percentage than any other state.” Furthermore, the book “Texas Politics and Government,” says that 22% of Texan children are uninsured. These numbers place Texas as the state with the highest number of insured people in the United States without mentioning that Texas has the largest percentage of population living below the poverty level. According the author of "Ron tackles heath care" article, “The substance of the plan, as I see it, being pushed by some congressional democrats is to greatly expand the number of people medically covered by the government by requiring people to have coverage and then offering a government subsidized “Public Option” (insurance) in lieu of obtaining private coverage.” Through this comment, the author shows his discontent with the idea of giving Texans public health care. However, I stand for this idea. In my opinion, governments should provides free or low-cost insurance to their people.

First of all, having heath insurance is a right that every citizen should have. However, the author does not stand for this idea. He says, “health care is not a right.” I found this statement very strong. People have the right to live, to be educated, to work, to pay taxes, but they do not have the right to have a health care. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in its Article 25, clearly states that “(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.” Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands for the right of having medical care, the U.S. government does not provide it to its people. In addition, the author mentions some words from the Declaration of Independence, “I don't believe that whole “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” entitlement involves me paying for someone else's health care.” It is curious that the authors mentions the words “life” and “pursuit of happiness.” Are these two words unattainable for the 5.7 uninsured million people in Texas? What about “pursuit the happiness” Can a sick person who is suffering from pain 24 hours be happy? Government should fulfill each requirement written in the constitution, and it is obvious that these 5.7 million Texans cannot pursuit their happiness.

Another of the author's comments is “I believe that most people who don't have coverage aren't interested in paying for it...” However the article “Texans trying to survive without health insurance” mentions several reasons for which Texans do not have insurance different from lacking interest. It says that “Most are employed. Two-thirds of uninsured Texas adults younger than 65 have jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.” "For many folks, it is simply just completely unaffordable." Then why does Texas have a higher percentage of uninsured people than other states? According to the article, “Workers here are less likely than those in other states to get insurance from their jobs.” “Families USA attributes the growing number of uninsured Americans to rising health insurance premiums, changes in the labor market and underfunded government programs.” In other words, millions Texas are uninsured because their employers do not pay for it, or because the money they make is not enough to pay it or others who work and are insured, but not their families. Being without insurance is directly related to the poverty level. As it was mentioned above, Texas has the largest percentage of population living below the poverty level. Then it can explain why people cannot afford to pay for health insurance. The only hope that these people have is in the legislators' hands. It should exist a law that forces all employers to provide health care to their employees.