I was reading just a few short minutes ago about the resistance to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, colloquially known as Obamacare.
I read one individual's take on this resistance as a fear of change. I don't believe this to be true. Polls, public sentiment, and legislator efforts all point to a nearly universal desire for health care reform.
Another individual's perception, who identified themselves as not an American citizen, viewed resistance as a desire to protect personal wealth and our ability to own more 'stuff'. I also do not believe this to be true and will demonstrate why with figures. Forgive me if you are not American and these figures insult you, but things are what they are.
- Americans lead the world in charitable giving. $306 billion were given by individuals. An additional $38.5 billion in donations were from foundation grants and $15 billion from corporations (2007 figures).
- 39% of Americans volunteer their time for non profit work, second only to New Zealand (2010 figures).
- 71.5% of doctors who work solo or in two-doctor offices offer Charity Care (2008 figures).
Clearly Americans are not as selfish as is popularized by liberal pundits, major media outlets or Hollywood.
Here is my take on it.
My viewpoint is not from a unique circumstance; but perhaps people of my circumstances and perspective are not prone to the vocal outbursts required to weigh in on political issues and be noticed.
Most of my growing up was done in active duty military service. 20 years in the United States Air Force. There are several characterizations that can be given to military communities. Two important ones are a respect for each other, without exception, and esprit de corps. These two elements are decidedly lacking in the civilian community.
Even though our military members are individuals with varying interests, political views and backgrounds, it could be said that they cast one shadow and speak with one voice. Not that they agree with each other on everything, but that they do not divide themselves over these disagreements.
Their civilian brothers and sisters seem so inclined to divisiveness because of a lack of respect and a lack of commonality. While the main ideological divide seems to be personal protections and responsibility versus communal support and security, these are not mutually exclusive positions. But having no sense of group, there has to be winners and losers. Without respect, there can be no appreciation of another's perspective.
The battle is enjoined with buzzwords and rationales, but the battle is not fought because we have ammunition. Sides are drawn over ideologies and we fight because we want to be winners and we want them to be losers.
In an America where citizens respect each other and are united as Americans, we would all be winners, regardless of the value of the legislation. It would either be seen as a small step towards a goal or a large step towards that goal.
