Health Care: DOA?

While I certainly don't want to be guilty of making a self-fulfilling prophesy, it's becoming increasingly clear that President Obama's health care plan is going to be dead on arrival, and the same members of Congress and the conservative media that will block all Americans from having health coverage similar to what they enjoy will spin the issue and attempt to blame the failure to pass health care reform on you-know-who: POTUS.

The problem health care reform faces in America is that roughly 85 percent of Americans have a plan they are comfortable with, and while we just love to tout ourselves as being among the most charitable nations on earth, our charity is like an ocean as wide as the county itself, but only an inch deep.

Those in favor of health care point to the 15 industrialized nations that have had universal health care for years, but fail to point out that those countries are (or were at the time they instituted their health care plans) relatively homogeneous societies; whereas, in America those without health care are minorities, poor, or both. Race and class drive so many of our political decisions, even when we gingerly side-step mentioning the twin topics because they give the lie to our vaulted facade of egalitarian, inclusive democracy.

What will remain unsaid in this debate is the feeling among conservatives that if you are without health care it's your own damn fault: You failed to obtain an education that would provide you with a safety net; you eat a diet of high-calorie junk food instead of one rich in dark green vegetables which leads to chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure; and the only exercise you get is pushing a grocery cart ladened with sugary snacks around your local supermarket. In other words, you deserve your fate and your unhealthy lifestyle serves to thin the herd a bit, something right-wingers certainly are not opposed to, but would never say out loud.

Chris Hedges, in his new book “Empire of Illusion” devotes serious ink to what he terms “The Illusion of Wisdom.” He writes, “The multiple failures that beset our country, from our mismanaged economy to our shredding of Constitutional rights to our lack of universal health care … can be laid at the door of institutions that produce and sustain our educated elite.” He continues by positing that the demise of liberal arts colleges that question authority and produce men and women of compassion leaves us at the mercy of bottom-line financial mercenaries, and the health care debate is proving him so very right.

The plain fact is, no one goes without health care in America. I recently wrote an article for a local publication that touted the excellent work done by Care Alliance here in Cleveland. They provide health care (including dental services) for the homeless and poor. The co-pay is zero, and every patient is treated with the utmost respect. A health care professional mans a podium near the front door with the title “Patient Ambassador” on it. Their job is to insure that those in need of services feel comfortable and are treated with dignity. But, due to our fragmented system of delivering health care services to the poor, by the time a patient reaches the doors of one of the free clinic facilities across the country (of which there are many) the cost of treating them is much higher than it would be if we engage in preventative medicine, which is what universal health care would do.

It's very simple: We're either going to pay a smaller amount for health care now, or a much larger amount later once patients' symptoms worsen later. Conservatives are real good at convincing people that we can ignore social problems without incurring costs. If you don't believe me, just look at the crisis we currently have in prison populations across the country: California almost went broke due to housing and feeding 135,000 prisoners at a cost of $8 billion. Two decades ago the mantra was “lock them up and throw away the key,” as if there were no costs to such insane social policies. Well, guess what? These prisoners are now coming home, and the“later” is now here, and we are certainly “paying” through the nose. And it looks like we're about to make the same mistake with health care. Are we just plain stupid? Don't answer that question.

A Real Second Chance

By Mansfield B. Frazier

Jeff Johnson's endorsement in the Ward 8 City Council race by Cleveland's only daily newspaper is of profound historical significance. Few, if any, American newspapers have taken so bold a step, and this endorsement speaks to a changing national mindset in regards to how individuals that have a blemish on their record are viewed. This is a wise move in the right direction, and in line with the Second Chance Act passed in 2007 under President Bush.

As a society, we have been shooting ourselves in the foot – actually, in the wallet is more like it – by attempting to forever keep someone who has run afoul of the law locked out in terms of becoming tax-producing citizens once again. There are those among us who would rather pay thought the nose to keep people like Johnson on the financial sidelines forever. Indeed, when Johnson (who is a personal friend of mine) was given an opportunity to work at City Hall after his release from prison back in 2002, howls of outrage were raised by the mean-spirited and small-minded in our region … a demographic we certainly have no shortage of; these are the same folks that keep our region from progressing.

However, by the newspaper acknowledging Johnson's skills as a public servant and his ability to offer something constructive to the political discourse, it is allowing the former state senator to be judged on his current merits instead of solely on his blemished past. One can only surmise that if he wins this upcoming contest and preforms well in office, the endorsement he just garnered will be replicated in future contests … for higher offices if Johnson decides to reach in that direction. Or, put another way, it would not do a turnabout and withhold an endorsement based solely on the basis of a decade-old conviction … would it?

The hope, of course, is that this endorsement is a bellwether move, the first step in a long journey towards fairness in terms of how formerly incarcerated persons are treated in this country. The record is always there, as it should be. And in the age of the Internet even expunging a record is not going to make it go away – but it should no longer be the main, or even the determining, factor when society looks at an individual and decides weather or not to allow them back into the game of life. Godspeed, Jeff.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com

Frazier's From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.frombehindthewall.com.
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