I have read and heard some crazy heated debates on healthcare reform lately, but instead of just throwing out a topic and letting everyone recap msn news fox and hanity and colmes, I have for you an answer to the healthcare debate. There will be no death panels, no waiting in line for needed opperations, no worries about increased healthcare costs or a political revolution to communism. Are you ready for it?

Everyone complains that we need a smaller gov’t, that politicians shouldn’t be making choices for us, especially when those choices are decided by who is giving the most money to a particular campaign. Well, there are about 300 million non-politicians in America right now. If we as citizens banded together for the betterment of eachother instead of blaming the greedy politicians who are only in it for personal gain and political future, something amazing could happen. Imagine if even 1 million people got together and created their own healthcare "system" where everyone helped eachother out, not only helping with the crazy huge bills, but also keeping eachother accountable for preventative measures. How would the world look at that group of people? America has been living as a nation of individuals for far too long and it is killing us. This nation was founded on a community concept. I’m not saying free handouts are the answer, but if we all got together and gave just a little to our neighbor, these things would take care of themselves. We wouldn’t have to worry about universal healthcare or our nation becoming communist/socialist or rising healthcare costs. There would be no reason for costs to rise, other than greed alone, and with millions of vioces in unity, big companies would have to listen. The only problem with this scenario is that everyone is too afraid that the person next to them is in some way only doing this to use them. As though they would be loosing something by helping out those less fortunate. Afraid they would be giving up their "American Freedom."

People confuse FREEDOM with STUFF. "If I’m able to do whatever I want when I want, I’m free. If I have the newest iPod and LCD TV and my cell phone can do more than your’s, I am truely free." By subscribing to such a belief system, we become slaves to the very things we thought gave us freedom. I work with students almost everyday, and when you ask them what freedom means to them, the number one answer I have gotten is, "If I’m able to do whatever I want when I want, I’m free." As we mature, shouldn’t that definition change? Shouldn’t our perspective begin to include not only ourselves, but those around us?

I doubt that I’m the only person who feels this way. Let’s work together to create a system that works, not only right now, but also in the future.

I think overall this is a good topic. Firstly, i dont think we can really speak for everyone. I think the better choice of words would be "some people". In logic, the word "some" means atleast one. While from our own perspectives, a majority observations of the overal american attitude may appear one way, we cat allow thoughts and conclusions to be formed around an anecdotal view, that is, a view based off of personal experience or observation(a retired lawyer whipped me on anecdotal conclusions).After all I am included in the word everyone, and i never complained about the need for a smaller government. Honestly I think the government is fine setup the way it is.Secondly, my favorite point of the post was the mention of accountability:

"People confuse FREEDOM with STUFF. "If I’m able to do whatever I want when I want, I’m free. If I have the newest iPod and LCD TV and my cell phone can do more than your’s, I am truely free." By subscribing to such a belief system, we become slaves to the very things we thought gave us freedom. I work with students almost everyday, and when you ask them what freedom means to them, the number one answer I have gotten is, "If I’m able to do whatever I want when I want, I’m free." As we mature, shouldn’t that definition change? Shouldn’t our perspective begin to include not only ourselves, but those around us?"

I feel that the interpretation of American Freedom has been severly skewed, due to the sense of inaccountability. I dont believe that our founding fathers meant the full measure of freedom , that has been interpreted today. For example, the freedom of speech; I think this was meant to be taken as; yes we should be allowed our fair say without the fear of the man next to him, but we should hold ourselves accountable, and really weigh everything we say. In other words, just because we have the right to free speech dosent mean that we blantantly just say anything we want. A good example of what i mean is the high amount of Obama and Bush bashing. Do we have the right to speak our opinion about our leaders?yes, but at what point do we draw the line on what we say? The men are, and were, the leaders of our country, and being in that position(the office that they serve) they deserve some level of respect, rather we agree with their decisions or not.

I think a good chord has been struck here, and think that the bottom line is holding ourselves accountable to each other, and our freedom aswell. Before we can come together as a nation and a strong people, weve got to hold ourselves accountable in every arena.

Reform? Isn’t it bad enough already?

I agree, the first step is personal accountability. From there, we can begin to make decisions that will actually result in an improvement to the greater good, rather than just "me."

And if health care is "bad enough already" shouldn’t some sort of reform be in order? Your opinion that it is bad would lead one to think that you are unhappy with its current state. Why wouldn’t you want it changed?

Honestly i cant really comment on the whole health care issue, because im so confused over what the whole problem is, and iv heard so many different explanations about it, all being different, that i have just decided not to comment, rather than fall to the common fallacious arguement.