A Vote for Life
One of the most inspiring moments for me at the Democratic National Convention -- a moment that set the tone for the entire event -- happened the very first morning.
Rod Smith, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party stood up in front of the Florida delegation and told us that his 25-year-old son, Dillon, was recently diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that usually strikes children. He has undergone his first round of chemotherapy, and the family is optimistic.
The inspiration came when Rod described how the health care reform passed by President Obama may end up saving Dillon’s life.
Without the Affordable Care Act, Dillon who is in his last year of law school would not be on his family's insurance plan, he would have his coverage capped, and the care he needs might not be accessible or affordable.
"The richest country in the world cannot survive without universal, affordable, available health care. Every Democratic president since Harry Truman has recognized that, and every Republican presidential candidate has opposed it," Smith thundered.
"And if there's one reason we ought to win this election, and there are so many, we need to take the message out there: Affordable Health Care will affect your life. It's happened to me. Take that message out there." (Tampa Bay Times)
There are millions of stories like this across America. But to hear a personal story from someone you know brings the message home – the message that we are better off, and that the things government does make a real difference in people’s lives. In fact for some it can be the difference between life and death.
I will never forget the emotion in the room that morning, and how it reinforced our belief we were doing the right thing by supporting President Obama. Health care reform – as with so many other issues – is not about dollars and cents so much as it is about people’s lives.
Government and our political choices must be driven by compassion and concern for people. President Obama understands that. Democrats understand that. And that is why I am proud to be a Democrat.
peter
3:53 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Rod Smith wants us to believe that his son wouldn't have the money to buy his own health insurance.The only way he could have it is through his parents policy! That is patently false.By the way, Romney and almost every Republican in Congress would vote to extend the age someone could remain on their parent's policy.Why not pass that without all the negatives that come with Obamacare?
drd
10:43 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I think you missed the point, Peter... Obamacare not only allows young people to be insured under their parent's policies, it eliminates the lifetime cap (an issue for Dillon Smith), prevents insurers from discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions, and in 2014 will do the same for adults -- among many other benefits. The point is that this law will benefit everyone. It is about people, their health, their ability to access care when they need it, and not being forced into bankruptcy when they fall ill.
Romney claims these things would be provided by the free market if there were demand for them? Well there is clearly demand and need -- and the market has not responded. At all. In fact the insurers are getting more restrictive as their profits swell. So let's get real and accept Obamacare as one of the great accomplishments of Obama's first term.
Joyce Abate-Bonaiuto
9:04 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Romney's stand on healthcare is that it is needed in America. I think we can all agree on that. The issue is HOW healthcare for all is done. When we have a healthcare plan in America that forces us to pay for contraceptives for women, mandates we pay for all abortions - whether they be in the last trimester or not, forces each of us to pay for healthcare whether we can afford it or not, and orders religious entities to provide the above, we are going down the wrong path. As far as the Democratic Convention being "emotional" - I'll say it was! Especially when the Democratic delegates had to vote on whether or not to mention God and Jerusalem. Three votes were taken before the teleprompter forced the speaker to say that the vote was in favor of mentioning God at the convention! How embarassing for the Democrats to show Americans that they had to actually vote to mention the name of God in their presentations! What that reveals to all Americans is their present and future agenda. Do we want another four years of this questionable agenda? Is it our cost to bear if a woman wants birth control? Is it our cost to bear if a woman wants an abortion? Is it any wonder why the name of God is taken out of the Democratic agenda? To erase God from our lives is a breach of what our founders died for and wanted America to be. To erase God from America is not the "new" agenda for any of us, but it will be if we don't vote to keep God in, and that is a vote for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Restless Knight
5:31 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Can't we separate the God issue from the real problems that plague our country? When you don't have a cogent arguent, you haul out your God (which is not necessarily everyone else's God) to obfuscate the issue.
Melissa Havard
9:46 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Joyce --you are factually incorrect on numerous accounts. According to politifact: "But it's not fair to say that taxpayers are paying for elective abortions. Any abortions would be paid through a separate account funded entirely through a portion of premiums paid by people who select a plan that covers abortion services, not from tax dollars. That's an important difference. Everyone who buys into a plan that covers abortion would have to pay into that abortion fund, even men. And for those with moral objections to paying a portion of their premiums for abortion services, the federal law requires that every region offer at least one alternative health plan that does not cover abortion." As for God & Jerusalem, please see the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution..... and Peter, without individual mandates, there is no way to PAY for the ACA law now stating that insurance companies can no longer discriminate against those with pre existing conditions. The individual mandate, recommended by the Conservative Heritage Foundations, assures that everyone contribute to the system, since we were paying for those without insurance. Who do you think has been paying for those who end up in emergency care who might not be there had they used preventative services? Moreover, we now get a refund from insurance when they do not spend funds on patient services as opposed to their overhead and profits, which clearly are enormous. Sarasota county just got a big refund check, yay!
Ogalley
10:52 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Whether or not Rod Smith's son could afford his own policy is irrelevant. The point is that there are thousands (maybe millions) of young people in this situation who could not afford it.
As far as the negatives that come with Obamacare, in my mind those are due to keeping insurance companies in the picture and that happened primarily because of the Republicans' objections to single payer (i.e., Medicare for all). We know that other countries with single payer plans have better medical outcomes for all but the very wealthy, and at half the cost, and much simpler administration.
If the "negatives" refer to the insurance mandate, recognize that with insurance companies in the picture, there is no other practical way to cover those with health problems at an affordable premium.
Brad Hardin
2:19 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The League of Women Voters has done a comprehensive study of the Affordable Health Care Act compared with the Romney/Ryan plan. This has not been an easy task since the Romney/Ryan plan has been changing to address independent analyst’s criticisms that were so damning even Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan agreed that changes were called for. They have had to change their stories from day to day when interviewed. Unfortunately for them, their continuing insistence on certain features bowing to insurance companies and other powerful medical industry lobbyists has still persuaded the League of Women Voters to conclude that the present Romney/Ryan plan would be dangerous for seniors as well as younger people and is inferior to the Affordable Care Act. The credibility of the League is unquestionable as a non-partisan organization that my wife and I have counted on for all our adult lives. The League’s web site provides detailed supporting evidence for their conclusions.
Restless Knight
5:41 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The United States of America is the only country in the industrial world where the right to universal healthcare is even an issue. Why do we have to fight for what most civilized nations have taken for granted for years?
The most conservative Supreme Court in history has ruled on Obromneycare. It's valid, it's legal, it's necessary and it's just.