What Haiti tells us about health care

When confronted with words and images depicting the suffering in Haiti, what did America do? The government sent salaried employees to help and committed resources and material. The government gave tax deductions to individuals who contributed to that relief (although it wasn't necessary as there was already a great outpouring of charity). Individuals and corporations dug into their pockets and gave freely to aid those in dire need. The generosity of the individual Americans was matched by the good deeds of the US government. While we can all Monday morning quarterback the efficiency and priorities, it does show how we can work together to solve (or at least ameliorate) the most terrible of situations.

This is what ethical behavior is all about. It is the voluntary choice of doing good. It is what we need to encourage, good people helping each other in times of need.

This is precisely the opposite of what the health care reform was all about. Health care reform, as envisioned by the Democrat plan, was pitting one citizen against another, pitting government against the people, pitting one state against another. In the age of identity/group politics, this sounds good, but Americans have not yet embraced groupism. Most still long for and believe in the American dream of individualism, individuals pulling together in the melting pot, taking the best from each to make the greatest for all.

What would happen if we took this type of energy into the health care arena? We would get health care providers donating their time; individuals and corporations providing charity for the needy; government providing facilities and salaried workers to help (perhaps Medical Corpsmen, VA hospitals, and military logistics); perhaps even tax breaks for those who donate time and money to the care of other Americans. We would have the poor and needy doing their part by trying to live healthier lifestyles. Would not this feel better than pitting rich against poor, employed against unemployed, state against state, inner city against suburbia?