Health Careless

This story "Dying for lack of insurance" on CNN Health makes me ashamed of the money-hungry healthcare system we have in this country. You can read the story, but it's not a unique one. There are fifty million Americans without healthcare insurance and this could be any one of them.

But since many people maintain their healthcare through their jobs and there is no job security anymore, this could be anyone at all. There but for the grace of God go I.

In short, if you're poor, uninsured, or under-insured, and have a chronic or terminal illness, you might as well spend the little money you have on your funeral arrangements because those who can treat you and make you well won't do it if they can't be paid. It's beyond criminal. There are exceptions of course, but those are few.

How we as a leading industrialized nation are still managing to turn our backs on universal health care is a mystery to me. It's been endlessly debated for years and nothing happens -- meanwhile people die every day because they literally can't afford to live. This needs to be figured out and put it into place. If there are problems, we figure them out as we go -- not "do nothing" because we haven't ironed out the details yet.

Until the government finally does its part, I'll just have to keep doing mine -- staying healthy and employed.