Government healthcare is unhealthy
Russ Pohl
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Opinion
With the health care debate still raging in the country, I would not be surprised if many other people, such as myself, are looking at their health habits and wondering what they can do to make themselves healthier.
I will be admit that I do not lead as healthy of a life as I should. I haven't done any rigorous exercise since high school and my eating habits are less than stellar. If I do not change many of the habits I have now, I know my risks of developing serious medical problems in the future are very high, especially since my family history is atrocious when it comes to heart disease.
There is no one else to blame for my lifestyle than myself. I could blame the fact that college life in general makes it hard for me to get some exercise when I have classes to attend and homework to finish, but I could easily use my extra time on weekends to go out for a run instead of sleeping in. My love of all sugary and caffeineated beverages helps me stay awake and alert for classes, even though I know much healthier and effective options exist, like a well rounded breakfast or a demoralizing cold shower. It is my own personal responsibility to make better choices for my health.
With a thousand-page health care bill being tossed around Congress that would expand health care coverage to all Americans, many citizens have very legitimate concerns about the plan. Will I be able to keep my doctor and my current health insurance? Will the quality of my health care become inferior to what I used to have?
The most important question, however, is how will the government pay for it?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Senate Finance Committee estimated that the current bill being purposed by Congress and endorsed by the White House will cost around $1.2 trillion or more over 10 years. After passing a economic stimulus bill which exceeded a trillion earlier this year, I am starting to get so desensitized to hearing "trillions" and "billions" that whenever I hear "millions," it sounds cheap and reasonable. Obviously Congress and the White House don't feel the same way.
I will be admit that I do not lead as healthy of a life as I should. I haven't done any rigorous exercise since high school and my eating habits are less than stellar. If I do not change many of the habits I have now, I know my risks of developing serious medical problems in the future are very high, especially since my family history is atrocious when it comes to heart disease.
There is no one else to blame for my lifestyle than myself. I could blame the fact that college life in general makes it hard for me to get some exercise when I have classes to attend and homework to finish, but I could easily use my extra time on weekends to go out for a run instead of sleeping in. My love of all sugary and caffeineated beverages helps me stay awake and alert for classes, even though I know much healthier and effective options exist, like a well rounded breakfast or a demoralizing cold shower. It is my own personal responsibility to make better choices for my health.
With a thousand-page health care bill being tossed around Congress that would expand health care coverage to all Americans, many citizens have very legitimate concerns about the plan. Will I be able to keep my doctor and my current health insurance? Will the quality of my health care become inferior to what I used to have?
The most important question, however, is how will the government pay for it?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Senate Finance Committee estimated that the current bill being purposed by Congress and endorsed by the White House will cost around $1.2 trillion or more over 10 years. After passing a economic stimulus bill which exceeded a trillion earlier this year, I am starting to get so desensitized to hearing "trillions" and "billions" that whenever I hear "millions," it sounds cheap and reasonable. Obviously Congress and the White House don't feel the same way.
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