Falsely Accused Ex-Football Star Wants Money From State
Chicago Wife Fights To Free Husband Who Was Shot By Police…
Congress wouldn't listen to people like Tiffany Owens talk about the need for affordable health care coverage, but maybe they will listen to her 11-year-old orphaned son, Marcelas.
Owens died, her family says, because she developed pulmonary hypertension and was unable to work. When Owens lost her job, she lost her health coverage and could not afford to buy any on her own. Owens fought for passage of health care reform in her final days, and now her son is carrying on in her memory.
"I'm telling the members of Congress that the health care bill should be passed because everyone deserves health care," Marcelas said during an interview on MSNBC.
"The health care system is broken, and it caused my mother's death," Marcelas added.
Talk about wisdom coming from the mouth of babes.Marcelas is an articulate and heart-wrenching example of why we need health care reform in this country. The young boy says he saw his mother struggle with the disease. She gained a lot of water weight and was unable to walk, he said.
Owens' mother said her daughter was "strong-willed and very independent."
"She was the kind of person who didn't want to ask for help if she didn't need it. A lot of that has impacted Marcelas," she said.
While Congress argues about the dollars and cents of health care reform, people like Owens are literally dying and children like her son are watching. It is the human costs that come with leaving 46-million Americans without health care coverage that we should be concerned about. That should be the driving motivation for Congress.
Marcelas says the reaction he has received from members of Congress to his lobbying efforts has been mixed.
"Half of them encourage me, but some don't like hearing what I say," Marcelas said. "What I want is not what they want," he added.
All Marcelas and millions of families without health care want is an affordable option to get it. They want to not worry about going bankrupt and becoming homeless because of medical bills. They want to know that if they become sick and lose their job after 30 years of working and paying taxes, that their medical needs will be met.
Marcelas is only 11, but he already knows that caring for people is more important than money. It's a lesson this country has yet to learn.
Comments: (490)
Add a comment
By: dsherline on 3/12/2010 11:43AM
Well, an 11 year old saying things like everyone deserves health care is saying things that 11 year olds don't think about. He's heard his mother and others saying it so in effect he's been indoctrinated.
Our government is not charged with protecting public health, nor should it be. Health care is a commodity. If someone thinks government provided health care works so well in other countries then they haven't spoken to any of the citizens of those other countries. You cannot honestly say that people in places like England, Cuba, or Canada
are satisfied with their medical care.
20 years ago, because of socialized medicine, Canada had a 50% income tax on everyone. Personally I don't want to work 40 hours and get paid for 20, and I don't know anyone who does.
In Great Britain the government taxes everything to generate revenue to support its socialist programs. When I was over there years ago there was road use tax and a television receiver tax among other things. They was a VAT tax on everything sold up to 19%. If there health care is so great why do so many Brits have such horrible teeth? The government has determined that oral care is a low priority.
If someone thinks it's the government's place to care for us they need to, 1. read the Declaration of Independence, and more importantly, 2.the Constitution along with the Bill of Rights with all of the ammendments, and while you're at it, 3. the Letters of Confederation.
If you still beleive it's the governments place to baby us then move to one of these "wealthiest countries" that provide health care to all and take advantage of their great system.
Report This
By: Julie on 3/12/2010 3:35PM
Sandy, you write: "The fact is, governments are charged with protecting public health."
No no no, we are not a socialist country yet!
Report This
By: efj3122 on 3/12/2010 6:49AM
As the movie states, "Lighten up, Frances."
Willbgone,
Your comments sound like those of a doctor/nurse. True?
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: sadmaawk on 3/12/2010 6:56AM
Personally, I don't want health INSURANCE. I want to be able to afford health care, like I afford food, shelter,clothing, ect. What makes health care so expensive is insurance. Take the predatory attorneys out of health care, and it would be much cheaper for Drs. to exist. A public option would not be a bad idea I guess, but the major insurance companies would have to stop installing $30,000 decorative ceilings in their remodeled offices. (an expense I am very familiar with, as I sell them to insurance companies.) Face it, large insurance companies are not in business to provide "health care", they are in business to make a profit from every policy sold. (This equates to denying health care in case you haven't figured it out.) Put a public option on the table, and watch how quickly BC/BS goes from Axiom ceilings to fine fissured. Let the insurance companies COMPETE. Let them show you the product they offer, and them convince you that it is worth the price they are asking for you to have it. That's the way a free market system works, not by governmental mandates that say every citizen has a legal obligation to fork over a percentage of his paycheck to a private, for profit corporation, who decides when and if they are going to deliver the services they promised.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: famemeddoc on 3/12/2010 9:48AM
The govt is not part of the market and does not "compete" with insurance companies. Let insurance companies sell policies across state lines (something the GOVT is stopping) and you will have your competition. Doesn't seem to be a competition problem with car or life insurance, what's the difference? Portability!!!
Report This
By: John on 3/12/2010 7:01AM
This country has NEVER cared about people either here at home or anywhere else when it even remotely appears to threaten the "right" of the rich to get richer. For those who don't understand the system, unless you are an elite member of "the club" you will never have access to the capital required to promote and succeed from an idea. However, those who are in control, will gladly help you if you give up controlling interest in your idea. I'm a well educated and pretty intelligent person, but even with the best idea in the world, I cannot gain access to the capital required to take advantage of it. It is a closed society, and the replacements are picked by the incumbents. You and I will never stand a chance to gain entry.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: deliciousspliff on 3/12/2010 9:37AM
Man, you are an ingrate, and an idiot. I am american, and I care. I am not rich, nor part of any club. You are a victim. I suppose its everyone elses fault you ARE MISERABLE RIGHT? "Oh america doesn't care, boo hoo". How about you open a history book, quit listening to Michael Moore's fat ass, and stop complaining communist. In fact, if you're "not going to root for the home team", why don't you get the fudge out of the stadium? Bleeding hearts and useless minds. By the way, the elite club you are referring too doesn't accept whiny liberals, so thats why you were never invited....we like people who WORK HARD and PAY THEIR OWN WAY!!!
Report This
By: Asher on 3/12/2010 7:02AM
Pretty sad they are using children to push a socialist program that has worked NOWHERE.
Id say its a new low, but those that would have govt. hold thier hand from cradle to grave have no shame, no self respect, nor a brain to share between them.....
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Cindy on 3/12/2010 7:04AM
I do feel sorry for the woman with pulmonary hypertension, but there is no real treatment or cure for the disease. Insurance would not have helped. She would need a lung and possibly heart transplant. Less than 5% receive donor organs. I think the example of the woman in Oregon with cancer that wasn't treated in a timely fashion might be a better example.My sympathy and prayers go out to her son.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: eliza on 3/12/2010 7:05AM
So it the woman could not work, why did she not get social security and medicaid/medicare. There are programs for this type of situation....or....was she denied by the GOVERNMENT?
Reply to this Comment | Report This