This is the column my parents will wish I didn't write.
I should first begin by warning you I just came home from viewing Milk. We gay people often think our history is just discos, drag queens and casual sex. But long ago, in a galaxy not so far away named San Francisco, there was a man named Harvey Milk. Milk stood up for all of us, and made this country a safer place for gays and lesbians. He made sure that discrimination against homosexuals did not occur under his watch in California by running a precise, passionate, and very well planned campaign, almost knocking on every single door of every single person in the State. Milk firmly believed that once people knew a gay person, it would be difficult to vote against us.
Where is our Harvey Milk now?
Why didn't our current gay and lesbian leaders take a page from Milk's handbook and stand in the face of those who oppose us and not back down? Why did we only preach to the choir when Proposition 8 was being campaigned around the State? Why didn't we, like Milk would have done, go to the churches that discriminated against us and show them that we count, that we are humans just like them, and convince them one at a time if we had to, that we, too, are entitled to marriage.
Instead we got a commercial that apparently went unwatched.
What happened to our leaders in the HIV community? When did it become politically correct not to stand up for what you believe in, no matter whom you pissed off? Why have HIV related health care issues seem to have become last decade's news? Why aren't our leaders kicking down doors in Washington to fight for more funding because more and more people need those precious dollars everyday? Why have we become complacent with the current status quo of holding the disease at bay, when so few can actually afford the treatments, deal with the side effects without a problem, or even begin to have the access to decent care.
Like Milk, I can point the finger at myself. There was a time when I didn't, no wait, couldn't, talk about my boyfriend, David, and his illness. We lived in fear -- fear that he would get deported, and fear that he would lose his health insurance. And I lived in fear as a gay man that I would be cut off from my family if I shared our secret. I lived with this same fear when I knew I was getting sick myself. I thought people would turn against me and would just let me die alone.
It turned out wrong -- for me, at least. Plenty of people do not have anywhere to go and do die alone -- from a variety of causes. I was instantly proved wrong the second I got honest with myself, and then got honest with everyone around me. For you see, after you tell your mother you have AIDS, it is truly downhill from there. Once you know you have Mom on your side, you know you will not be fighting this alone. I then made sure I told everyone that mattered in my life, for I did not want them to find out second-hand. I wanted them to hear it directly from my own mouth, and ask whatever questions they had. And you know what happened -- there was a non-stop parade of people in and out of my hospital room showing their support, so many that the nurses just started pointing and saying, "He is in there."
I realize now that in spite of whatever perceived imperfections my life may have from time to time, that I am one incredibly lucky and loved guy. I also have friends and family behind me, no matter what time is it, to help me through this crisis one calls "Living with AIDS". I also have health insurance and a family that can help me, should the need arise.
But what about my brothers and sisters with HIV that do not have this support? What about the individuals without health insurance that get forced to deal with a bankrupt and overly bureaucratic county health care program that barely works when you have the most minor of problems.
People argue that we cannot have national health insurance because they fear it will cause long lines and reduce care. God, how I wish Milk was around to help us through this one. He would have pointed to Europe, stating their high quality of care, the equal access for all, their lower infant mortality rates, and higher quality of life. The United States, in spite of our bragging about being the richest nation ever, ranks 37th on the global infant mortality rate chart - beneath France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, and Ireland, to name only a few.
As Thomas Jefferson stated that all men were truly created equal, then why can't all men have equal access to health care?
If we were truly pro-life, why don't we care about the life after it has been born?
Back to that comment about my Mom, since telling her my diagnosis, she has been great, amazing beyond all expectations even. She went from being a woman who never wanted to deal with this disease, to being proud of her son who speaks out on behalf of those who cannot. I am proud to say that my family are my number one fans, and, honestly, I would have not guessed that ten years ago.
In Milk, he starts to talk about his boyfriends who committed suicide because of living in the closet, how he felt he betrayed them by not being strong enough to stand up for his own lifestyle. Milk felt he had no other choice but to speak. I started speaking out, rather innocently in fact, when I was written about in the New York Times regarding a project I created for the residents of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. I was honest with my status, and the writer included it in the piece. People who knew me but didn't "know" were amazed. I was told that it was a beautifully written story -- and that "I had the balls to come out in the New York Times." Honestly, it would have taken more balls not to say it, for you see Mom already knew, and speaking freely with the Times was part of the "downhill."
I have seen too many people die because they were afraid to speak out and ask for help. I had a friend die because he was afraid to change doctors for fear of hurting that doctor's feelings. I had another friend die because his family did not accept his lifestyle.
If we want change to come to America, we must be the ones that change, not just the people that get paid to work on the Potomac. We must fight every single day for this change. We must fight for all Americans to be treated equally on every single level of their lives -- and this must include health care.
Throughout the movie, Milk kept getting death threats. I had my own Milk moment recently after a radio interview. I was on the Cable Radio Networks, discussing what it was like to be a person living with AIDS in America in 2008. The very next day I received a call - it came up "private" on my caller ID. It was some woman, I believe her name was Dolores, and she said she was from the State of California Health Department. She told me that a recent sexual partner of mine tested positive and that I had to test in thirty days or she would call my employer. I laughed and said, "Well you are assuming I have an employer, for you are talking to him." She was to call in thirty days and make sure I tested. She never called back. Just to be sure, I contacted the California AIDS Department, and they backed up my fears - it was a crank call. The County makes those calls and never, ever without giving out phone numbers to call for more assistance.
My Milk moment. The part my parents did not know about until they read this, but part of the process. I now look forward to the next one, because, I know, change isn't going to happen to our health care without pissing dozens of people off.
So, to that woman named Dolores, and others just like her -- I say bring it on -- I await my next Milk moment with pride.
Follow Thomas DeLorenzo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TDeLorenzo
You said "As Thomas Jefferson stated that all men were truly created equal, then why can't all men have equal access to health care?"
I don't think I have a right to ask others to fund my medical care and I don't find that Jefferson thought so either. I'm ready to lie down and meet my maker if the last disease I will have is upon me. Hasn't it always been that way for most of human kind? Isn't this how the nature works?
You said: "If we were truly pro-life, why don't we care about the life after it has been born?" Inherent in the pro-life view is the understanding that once life occurs, it walks an unstoppable path towards death. That is why pro-lifers think HOW life is lived in the interim is key, and that is part of HOW they "care about life after it has been born". Our disagreement is between government "compassion" and private charity.
That you and I have lived as long as we have is already a cause for celebration, since so many die long before it seems that they ought to have.
I believe that you and I are immortal souls who will continue to exist after we die and our choices are merely between where we will dwell after death: with Christ or without Him.
May you choose Christ and receive His peace now and hereafter.
My point is if you can't benifit from a programe, than why donate to it. Most organ donors are uninsured.If you want national health care, than don't sign that line on your drivers liceince and tell your family not to donate your organs in the event of your untimely death until there is national health care. No way can anybody expect you to donate to a programe that you have know way of benifiting from. No way can anybody that does'nt agree with national health care can argue with you on this point.
For a nine-day stay in the hospital they charged me exactly 2405$, INCLUDING surgery, MRI and Ultrasonography. The best stay in a hospital of my live! Their medical technology is beyond anything i have seen in the US.
Later I found out that in the US my PPO insurrance only had covered me for 3 days, guess i would have paid 100000$ or so for the same or worse treatment i received here in Germany.
WAKE UP US!
Health care is about eating right, not smoking, exercising, AND it's also about medicine, surgery, diagnostic testing, well you get the idea.. I pay tax dollars for police, fire, and for gods sake, WAR. I would rather instead pay for all our health care in that mix as well. That way IF I find out someone is skimming money, or scamming the system, WE can fire them and replace them with someone else, without having to chase them clear to China, or Costa Rica.
When there are as many hospitals, and doctors offices within that magic 1 hour time period for trauma care, or for that matter just plain old health care as there are churches, or automobile dealers in the US cities and towns. Then I will trust your Free Market health care program. Until I actually have choices as to where I can shop for a doctor, then I do not see how I have a choice other than "take it or leave it," is a wise idea.
Do you want to take the time to look in the phone book for just the perfect firefighter, when your house is burning down?
I know!!! I'll just get the Walmart 2 for one deal, Police and Fire service set, and get it on a lay away plan.
What you're talking about is "medicine," and no, Thomas Jefferson would not have agreed people have an equal right to it. It's a business providing a service to be bought by those who value it, and it deserves to have competition from alternatives.
With that type of planning, it would be in committee or court forever until we have health care that costs 50% of our GDP... This is our best shot at getting the cost under control,, Medicare does a fabulous job and we know where every penny goes...which is more than you can say about the bank bailout or DOD...If they try putting some super glomerate in place, then we are in the same mess again...We really do not need to overengineer it at all...In fact that would kill it.
4 things..adjustments are normal but result in overhead.. Cross references with membership numbers also result in overhead squared...(cross references would be eliminated with a national system)... Then audit trails for analysis for fraud and abuse or to improve care...then the money trail, is it going overseas and have they paid taxes on it...
Of course there will always be those who "game the system" and get more than their fair share in terms of what they are contributing back to society. But I'd rather err in the philosophy that we are "all in this together" rather than cut off the needful members who, for whatever reason, are not as able to be totally personally responsible.
Romulus, how confident are you that if and when (and for nearly all of us it is a matter of when, not if) you will be incurring a huge medical cost that you personally will be able to cover it? Are you confident, if you have insurance, that this company will actually pay out? (again - see "Sicko"). If you are one of the lucky few, then count yourself blessed. And as a blessed one, then consider sharing your blessings.
Take a look at the FRENCH healthcare system.
OH NO , he said French!
It is actually one of the better universal healthcare systems in the world.
Just because the Canadian and UK systems are flawed does not mean the US has to follow their example.
Trust me when I tell you, even bad healthcare coverage is better than no coverage, when you have a life threatening illness.
On Tuesday I will be having a hysterectomy. I had to pay $14,500 up front because what insurance I have will only pay part. As you might imagine this is a huge expense for us, particularly because we are on a fixed income (my husband is older, and retired and my work is as his caregiver) but I'm not yet eligible for Medicare. My choice is to leave the cancer untreated (and die painfully and leave my husband untended) or incur dramatic debts.
However, I am truly shocked to hear that you've had to pay $14,500 for it (and that's only a part payment? How much is the full charge, dare I ask?). In every other western society, you wouldn't have been charged anything at all. I'm very very sorry for all Americans who have to choose between health-care and, for example, paying their mortgage. It's a scandalous way for a prosperous society to treat its citizens.
http://democracyandsocialism.com/Videos.html
No. My main beef is the lack of personal responsibility that seems to pervade this nation. The belief that others are required to pay for your health care if you can't afford it ESPECIALLY when your illness IS your own fault. If you don't take care of yourself and if you engage in risky behaviour then no one has the moral responsibilty to pay for your healthcare.
It is quite telling that while every country always wants to improve its health-care system, and complains about the bits of it they don't think are functioning properly, NO other country in the world would ever consider adopting the current US system, because we can all see very clearly that it DOESN'T WORK.
United States - 77.1
Canada - 79.6
France - 78.8
UK - 77.7
A couple of years may not seem like much, but as an average across a large industrialized nation is it pretty big. Especially considering Canada has similar geography (other than being colder which is a negative on life expectancy) and similar life styles. Yet it has almost a 3 year increase on life expectancy. Guess why.
After we have universal single-payer health care for everyone, if you get lung cancer, then you can CHOOSE to stay at home and die, without burdening anyone else.
But, anyone else who develops some kind of illness that is not their fault in any way, can get treatment.
Of course, all of that is a moot argument ANYway, seeing as how your main beef is that you think it will cost each and every person MORE if we had unversal single-payer health care for everyone, than our current health care "system". CORRECT?
Which is where you go wrong in the first place, because every other western democracy on the planet has proven that doing so will cost each and every person LESS than what you are paying now, with BETTER health care.
What part of that don't people like you understand?????
I "found out" in 1990 when I was very young -- 18 years later, I still haven't been able to tell my family about my illness for fear of the implications (my father is an evangelical minister). My partner and I saw many of our friends die during our 19 years together and I feel shameful, in light of their memory, for my lack of courage.
I was moved by your story and was encouraged by your calls for more aggressive action from our leaders. Thank you for stepping into the leadership void in our community and for challenging the "status discquo".
Who knows, you may just be our next great leader. We need all the Harvey Milk's we can muster.