Overheard

I attend meetings every day...at McDonald's in Hastings. Between 7-9 AM several people of my age group (60+) meet there and discuss the American situation.

One day last week, health care was the main subject. Generally it was agreed that while we have the best health care available it is also the most expensive. Soon the discussion evolved into what was the new administration going to/should do about health care and health care costs.

One fellow remarked that it seemed odd to him that the people who had the best 'free' health care in America, our Senators and Representatives, were so reluctant to give that same benefit to us the people of America. For the rest of their lives our Congressmen, our Supreme Jurists, and yes, our Presidents all were going to get the best health care available in the US, at no cost to them. Still (the thinking seems to go), to give that same benefit to us smacked of 'socialism', so should not be available to the rest of the citizenry.

Some how that seems illogical. If free health care is not 'socialism' when that group of people are benefited, why then is it 'socialism' when the rest of the groups of people are benefited? Or to say the same from the opposite direction, if free health care is 'socialism' when the common man gets it why is it not 'socialism' when the people in government have it?

In fact, it is 'socialism' in both cases. Either way it is the government being involved in health care. America is, whether or not we want to believe it, a 'socialized' country. Many many groups of people are benefited by or affected by government involvement. Farmers get subsidies, for example. Not all farmers do, but many farmers, and those appearing to be farmers do. School kids get free lunches. Once again, not all but some. Banks got a huge bailout. The auto makers want one as well. Unemployment benefits can be added to the list as well. There are many more examples of government involvement. These things have been accepted by all.

These things only become a problem when they are called 'socialism'. As long as they are not categorized they have gained acceptance. I say, lets lose the label and get on with getting decent universal health care for All Americans! Let us all have what the people in the government already do have. It is time!