Galindez writes: "I hear the Republicans saying all the time that Obamacare will cause waiting lines like they have in Canada. My response to that is, 'Fantastic!' If they took the time to think, they would realize that all they are saying is more people will be receiving health care."
Longer waiting times for health care is a good thing. (photo: Healthy Living)
17 May 14
pponents of Obamacare are right. You might just have to wait longer for that tummy tuck. I suppose you might even have to wait a little longer for that surgery on your knee, unless it’s an ACL and you’re a professional athlete – then you can still get operated on right away. It might even take longer to get an appointment with your doctor. I can hear the tea partiers shouting, "I told you so." But guess what: it’s a good thing.
I hear the Republicans saying all the time that Obamacare will cause waiting lines like they have in Canada. My response to that is, “Fantastic!” If they took the time to think, they would realize that all they are saying is more people will be receiving health care. Maybe Jane from across the street will be getting a procedure done before you, but Jane couldn’t afford the procedure last year, so she wouldn’t have been in the line.
Millions of Americans who suffered through injuries and illnesses without health care are now in line. Of course more patients are going to cause longer waiting times. I have never met a Canadian who would give up their health care in exchange for our system. I guess if I met Wayne Gretzky, he might like a system in which only those who can afford it get treated. But I’m betting before he made millions playing hockey, he was happy to go to a Canadian doctor instead of suffering through the pain of an injury because his parents couldn’t afford a visit to the doctor.
Obamacare is only a step in the right direction. We need longer lines. We want everyone in line.
Most opponents of Obamacare are, deep down, good people who have been duped by the greedy one percent who want to keep the line short. They want the specialists to be caring for only their families. God forbid the janitor or the maid get the same health care as the rich.
To get everyone into the line, we need to first get rid of the middle man. When the public option was being debated, all we heard was how insurance companies couldn’t compete with the government-negotiated rates. My reaction was always to say, wouldn’t that be wonderful? No more insurance companies to deny us procedures they think are too costly. What do they provide? They are nothing more than payees who add to the cost of health care. Let’s give their job to a non-profit driven entity like the government and save money.
Yes Obamacare opponents on the left, you are right too – single payer will make the lines even longer. Won’t that be wonderful? But in the meantime let’s give credit where credit is due. Obamacare is causing longer lines for health care, so let’s celebrate.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.
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