And I feel like an idiot for feeling that way, because I know what I am saying is fundamentally right and I feel like God is calling me to write it, so really, nothing else matters. Maybe I'm overreacting anyway. I don't know.
Here it goes.
I support healthcare reform.
(Holds arms up to block fire lit arrows that are careening down upon me.)
This is not a post in support of the new healthcare bill. It is not a post against. It's not about that.
It's not about the bill. It's about some of the extreme attitudes, broad statements, and hate surrounding the bill. I can't stand it. Really, it makes me feel all tight in my chest. I hate the hate. I can't stand it.
I hate the absolute statements that are being thrown around like "government takeover" and "my tax money paying for lazy people who don't want to work" and "conspiracy."
I know that people have concerns about many things - more government control, the manner the votes were obtained, tax increases on the wealthy, the effect on insurance premium rates, the possibility of waiting lists etc. I don't want to argue those points. That is not the point of this post.
The point is I hate the hatemongering. I hate the lies (or twisting and stretching of truths) to make people hate. Did I mention I hate it?
The truth (in our situation) is this:
Not all people who need government assistance are lazy people who don't want to work. I had to give up my job (and my health insurance) to stay home with Jonah. Not because I'm lazy and don't want to work but because I have to take care of him. My circumstances require me to stay at home. Jonah is on Matt's insurance. We decided not to put me on his plan because it was going to be way too expensive. So I now I pay for a sub-standard plan out of pocket and have a $5,000 deductible before it kicks in. Jonah FINALLY qualified for Medicaid after eight months of us jumping through hoops and struggling to pay our bills. And that is WITH insurance. If it hadn't been for donations from people who, for whatever reason, love us and care for us and for the help of generous family members, we could have very easily gotten in trouble (or had to sell our house) while we waited.
What if Jonah hadn't qualified? What if Matt were to lose his job? What if we couldn't pay the COBRA payments (which are RIDICULOUSLY high) and Jonah had a lapse in coverage? What if the next insurance company wouldn't accept him because he has a preexisting condition? What would we do?
I am very thankful for government involvement.
If it weren't for government assistance, Jonah wouldn't have a nutritionist, an occupational therapist, or a physical therapist. (Well, he probably would but we would be in very bad shape financially.) Jonah qualifies for those programs. We receive them for free. I am thankful for them. Jonah has Medicaid that covers our copays and prescriptions. I am thankful.
I am thankful that he won't be denied because of his preexisting condition.
Many of the families who need help are like us - forced out of work because of circumstances beyond their control - just trying to take care of their kids, their families, just trying to survive the hand they've been dealt. Many of them are not as fortunate as Matt and I are to have the resources and knowledge to apply for help in the first place. Many of them do not have family or friends making donations to help them get by. We are so blessed. We are the fortunate ones.
So please, before you make blanket statements about the people who are receiving the benefits of your tax dollars, think about situations like ours. It is so hard. And you just don't know until you've been there. (I definitely know that people DO take advantage and there are things about the system that are VERY messed up, so you don't need to argue that point. Believe me, I know.)
For me, it boils down to this. I want to be compassionate. I want the hatemongering to STOP. I want the fear tactics to cease. I want people to stop being so prideful long enough to listen to each other. I think Jesus calls us to take care of the sick, the hurting, and the poor. I think he calls for us to pray for our government and our leaders, whether we fully agree with them or not.
Whatever comes from all of this, whatever it entails, God knew it before it happened. He will carry us through it. It is not, unless he has planned it to be so, the end the world. And if it is, then I'm one step closer to seeing Jesus and my baby Gabe.
We need to discuss, listen, share, have open minds, but most of all LOVE. Nothing else really matters.
Try to see some good in things, even if you don't agree with all of it. And please, for the love of God (really), stop with the hate already.
It's making me sick.
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On a much lighter note, Matt's mom kept Jonah this morning so I could get my hair cut today, I went to my first therapy session, and my mom kept Jonah tonight so Matt and I could go out to eat.
I got spoiled!
Here's my new do.
(Sorry for the dramatic sassy face look. It wasn't my intention... I just felt like a doofus smiling at my own cell phone.)
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I'm cutting the comments off now before things get uglier. I was so encouraged by the positive sharing of views and LOVING tone of everything at the beginning, but OF COURSE it had to get nasty toward the end. That is so frustrating, guys. Really. I'm disappointed. If you can't say things in a loving way, just keep your mouth shut. This was a post on NOT hating. I guess I should have known though. Oh well. Thank you to the 98% of you who were loving and kind. I know you are in the majority.
