An article entitled;”President Obama Signs SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion” appeared in the February 5, 2009 edition of the Feminist Majority Foundation’s US Daily News Wire. In this Article we learn that the SCHIP program, which currently provides health insurance for more than 7 million children, with the stroke of President Obama’s pen, was expanded to cover an additional 4 million children. We are also provided with the somewhat troubling information that President Bush twice vetoed similar legislation.
Before signing the bill, Mr. Obama stated, “In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiations, and health care for our children is one of those obligations…” I must say that I agree wholeheartedly, but it bothers me to know that President Bush twice vetoed legislation that would have expanded SCHIP. Did he not, as a purportedly decent man, also see the need-indeed the necessity-of providing quality health care for millions of indigent children, including legal immigrants, who lacked coverage?
But I would carry this a step further. If a “decent” society feels the obligation to care for millions of children whose parents work full time, but cannot afford health insurance, what about these working parents? If it is “decent” to provide health care for these needy children, isn’t it “indecent” to deny it to the parents of those same children who (to quote the article) “through no fault of their own don’t have-and can’t afford- private insurance?”
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This is a well written post. You make a good point.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to include a link to the article you're writing about.
I agree that it is a good thing to expand the coverage of SCHIP to another 4 million kids, but I disagree with smokers being forced to pick up the tab. The popular anti-smoking bandwagon has won a major battle with Obama's signature of this bill. However, I think it's a shame that people like me who work and provide insurance for my child without assistance are forced to pay such high taxes on products that we enjoy. Often I like to enjoy a handmade cigar in the evening, and now they are going to be that much more expensive. People should think about this for a second: who is going to be the next target of a public "do whats best for them if they won't do it themselves" crusade after those of us who choose to enjoy tobacco are extinct?
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