In conclusion, this was an interesting project to wrap up Policy. I enjoyed getting to pick a case that I am interested in. It gave me some personal autonomy to learn about something I am interested in, which made me more motivated. I managed my time very well in this case. We had very little time to do this project, but I was able to get it done early, without stressing myself out. If I had more time, I would research the case deeper. I feel like I only scratched the surface, but I now understand the case better than before. Overall, this class was a helpful one. I felt like I reviewed the basics of government while getting into some more advanced studies. After this class, I feel that I have a different understanding of how the government works. I am very happy with how I did this year, and I can't wait for Senior year!
Showing posts with label Policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Policy. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
How Roe v. Wade Changed History
This is the final unit of the 3rd Junior Humanities course, "Policy." In the 3rd unit, Judicial, we learned all about the Judicial branch of the government. We learned how courts work and how cases get to the Supreme Court. We also studied different Supreme Court Justices and how the court has changed throughout history. We watched a PBS documentary about the founding and history of the Supreme Court. This gave us background information so we could better understand how it works today. We looked at different famous Supreme Court Cases like Marbury v. Madison, Dred v. Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, and other history changing cases. We specifically looked at cases that changed policy in America. We also investigated different legal jargon. We had a vocabulary word bank where we defined different words used in law. For our FE, we went to The National Veterans Art Museum. This was more related to unit 2 and war policy, but we had our judicial FE in unit 2 with the visit to the Cook County Criminal Courthouse. At the museum, we looked at different pieces of art made by veterans. We also saw in an interactive exhibit on "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. We had been reading this book in unit 2 to get a better understanding of the personal aspects of going to war. We were able to touch real Vietnam War artifacts and wear an 85lb pack soldiers had to carry through the jungle. For this Action Project, we had to pick a Supreme Court case and analyze the policy behind it. I chose Roe v. Wade because of my interest in medicine. I think it is interesting to learn about the government's policies on a personal matter like healthcare. I researched and made a slideshow showing the key factors of the Roe v. Wade case.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
The Vietnam War: A Different Perspective
This is the second unit of the final junior humanities course "Policy." In this unit "Executive", we learned all about the Executive branch of the U.S. government. We looked at how the president manages the armed forces, and how different areas of the government help the president with his duties. We also took a deep look at different Cabinet positions and when and why they were formed. We made a class timeline with every Cabinet position in chronological order, and why they were created. We also look at a few different wars. We mainly focused on the Vietnam War and some policies surrounding it like The War Powers Act. As a class, we looked at how different war policies affect the public and the people who are fighting the wars. We also studied how past wars have shaped our present day. For our FE this term, we actually jumped ahead to next unit, which focuses on the judicial branch. We visited the Cook County Criminal Courthouse and witnesses a live murder trial. This was definitely one of the coolest FE's I have ever gone on. We saw the witness statements, and we got to ask questions to our tour guide. This was definitely one of the coolest and most real-world FE's we have ever gotten to go on. For our action project, we had to write an essay. I chose the Vietnam War. The assignment was to write a bit about the history of the war and analyze the policies that came out of this war. We also had to state our opinion on whether this war was just or unjust.
Claire Moody
5-15-19
Vietnam War
Was the Vietnam War justified or not? A legislative act issued in 1973 called the War Powers Act, checks the abilities of the president to declare war without congressional approval. The Vietnam war was not officially declared, so it really is not an actual war. President Lyndon B. Johnson did not get congressional approval before sending armed troops to Vietnam. However, laws change over time. Before 1973, the war may have been more justified. The United States was extremely concerned about the spread of communism throughout Asia and wanted to stop Communist North Vietnam from overtaking the U.S ally, South Vietnam. After 1973, the war seems more unjustified. Clearly, this was an illegal war because president Johnson did not have congressional approval according to the War Powers Act. In my opinion, the war was a reasonable reaction to a perceived growing threat, but knowing how the war worked out with the U.S. surrendering, and hundreds of civilians being killed, it was not justified in hindsight.
The main cause of the war was the Soviet Union spreading communism to China, which eventually spread to other parts of Asia. Japan was also involved. Japan invaded Vietnam in WWII to fight off communist political leader Ho Chi Minh. The Japanese defeated Mihn, but eventually, Mihn regained power and turned to the north of Vietnam. The Japanese involvement was one of the underlying causes of the war as well. At the Geneva Conference in 1954, Vietnam was split along the 17th parallel. To the north was communist Vietnam, and to the south was South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was the leader in the north and Emperor Bao controlled the south. The U.S. had been involved in Vietnam ever since WWII. The U.S. became directly involved in 1954 after the Geneva Conference. President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared strong support for Ngo Dinh Diem, the new anti-communist leader of South Vietnam. Under the agreement of the Geneva Accords, the U.S. was only supposed to have 685 military advisors in Vietnam. Eisenhower secretly sent thousands of troops to Vietnam, and the number rose to 16,000 under the Kennedy administration. Some of these military officers were already beginning combat operations. The Viet Cong and the south of Vietnam were starting to fight as America trained troops to be prepared to go into combat. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent a team to report on conditions along the 17th parallel. This is when the “Domino Theory” started. It was believed that if one southeast fell into communism, the rest of the Southeast Asian countries would follow. Although Kennedy increased U.S. presence in Vietnam, he did not launch a full military intervention. In November of 1963, Ngo Dinh Diem was killed, just 3 weeks before Kennedy was assassinated. With the deaths of both leaders, military presence along the 17th parallel was increased. Although not fully involved in the conflict yet, the threat of communism taking hold in Southeast Asia caused enough concern to the U.S. government that the beginning of military involvement seemed justified.
The U.S. involvement officially started in 1964 in retaliation for a torpedo attack, which is a justifiable reason for fighting back. This incident is known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident. President Johnson was now president. Vietnam launched torpedos at U.S destroyer boats causing president Johnson to order bombing in North Vietnamese harbors. This was the unofficial declaration of war. President Johnson did this without congressional approval. This is what started the active fight against North Vietnam. In this case, Congress was not involved with the declaration of war; President Johnson did it himself. The war itself lasted 20 years, while the U.S. was involved 11 of those 20 years. The complete conflict dragged on from 1955 to 1973 with heavy casualties of both civilians and soldier. The Vietnam War took place in Vietnam with some trails and camps crossing the border into Cambodia and Laos, two of the neighboring countries. This war directly involved the U.S. and Vietnam, but other countries were indirectly involved like the Soviet Union at the time. The war was begun for what seemed to be a perceived and then an actual threat to the U.S.
After the war, the War Powers Act was put into place. This was a legislative order that was put into place after the U.S. surrendered to Vietnam. This act was put into place to check presidential power to declare war and was a reaction to the American public’s disapproval of the conflict. The act states that the president has 48 hours to notify Congress of a declaration and military action and a further 60 days to end military activities in that area. President Nixon vetoed the act, but Congress overruled. The Legislative branch proposed the bill initially, with the followed support of the executive branch. According to the U.S constitution, the power to declare war is the role of the executive branch, specifically the military commander in chief. The president as well as the Congress. This act does abide by the laws of the constitution. This is because the president who is the command in chief of the military directs the armed forces, but the Congress has the power to declare war and check the president’s power. The War Powers Act just supports the relationship between Congress and the president on whether to declare war or not.
There were some consequences to enacting this law. The War Powers Act meant a delay in military action unless Congress and the president could agree on sending troops into conflict. This would mean that tensions could rise without U.S. presence. Another consequence is that many U.S. presidents have generally ignored this rule, some considering it “unconstitutional.” According to Nixon, the act: “would attempt to take away, by a mere legislative act, authorities which the President has properly exercised under the constitution for almost 200 years.” Presidents such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have all sent troops into conflict without congressional approval. Many critics have stated that the War Powers Act has not done its job because it does not create a smooth communication between the legislative and executive branches. There have been calls for the act to be repealed. In 1995, a proposal to repeal the key components of the War Powers Act was denied with a vote of 217-204.
The Vietnam war was legal before 1973, but after the act was passed it was not justified. Before the War Powers Act, the president’s act of sending troops without congressional approval was a problem, with cases like President Polk and the Mexican American War. However, after Vietnam, the act was put in place to prevent “future” Vietnams. When Johnson sent troops to fight back against Vietnam, he was reacting out of fear and immediate concern. The U.S. was concerned with the spread of communism and wanted to fight back immediately. It was justified at the time, and at the time that Johnson declared war in 1964, it was not yet illegal. Looking back at Vietnam, however, it result does not justify the loss of life. The U.S. ended up surrendering after killing thousands of unarmed civilians and Vietnamese troops. The war never ended up solving what it was concerned with. Vietnam fell under the northern communist rule. If we look back at what the war accomplished, it was not worth it. This war was fought to stop the spread of communism, but instead, blood was shed to delay the spread of communism, with some thinking the war just delayed the inevitable.
Works Cited.
Goldberg, Maren. War Powers Act. Britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. April 16, 2009. Web. May 18, 2019.
Vietnam War. History.com. A&E Television Networks. October 29, 2009. Web, May 15, 2019.
War Powers Act. History.com. A&E Television Networks. November 30, 2017. Web. May 16, 2019.
Zinn, Howard, and Anthony Arnove. A People's History of the United States. New York. Harper, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2017. Print.
In conclusion, I think this was a pretty average project. It was just a pretty standard essay. I think I articulated my thoughts nicely and I was able to clearly explain what I thought of the Vietnam War. I also explained the history as well as a war policy. I really wouldn't do much different for next time. I . am proud of the end result, and can't wait to end my Junior year with all A's
Claire Moody
5-15-19
Vietnam War
Was the Vietnam War justified or not? A legislative act issued in 1973 called the War Powers Act, checks the abilities of the president to declare war without congressional approval. The Vietnam war was not officially declared, so it really is not an actual war. President Lyndon B. Johnson did not get congressional approval before sending armed troops to Vietnam. However, laws change over time. Before 1973, the war may have been more justified. The United States was extremely concerned about the spread of communism throughout Asia and wanted to stop Communist North Vietnam from overtaking the U.S ally, South Vietnam. After 1973, the war seems more unjustified. Clearly, this was an illegal war because president Johnson did not have congressional approval according to the War Powers Act. In my opinion, the war was a reasonable reaction to a perceived growing threat, but knowing how the war worked out with the U.S. surrendering, and hundreds of civilians being killed, it was not justified in hindsight.
The main cause of the war was the Soviet Union spreading communism to China, which eventually spread to other parts of Asia. Japan was also involved. Japan invaded Vietnam in WWII to fight off communist political leader Ho Chi Minh. The Japanese defeated Mihn, but eventually, Mihn regained power and turned to the north of Vietnam. The Japanese involvement was one of the underlying causes of the war as well. At the Geneva Conference in 1954, Vietnam was split along the 17th parallel. To the north was communist Vietnam, and to the south was South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was the leader in the north and Emperor Bao controlled the south. The U.S. had been involved in Vietnam ever since WWII. The U.S. became directly involved in 1954 after the Geneva Conference. President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared strong support for Ngo Dinh Diem, the new anti-communist leader of South Vietnam. Under the agreement of the Geneva Accords, the U.S. was only supposed to have 685 military advisors in Vietnam. Eisenhower secretly sent thousands of troops to Vietnam, and the number rose to 16,000 under the Kennedy administration. Some of these military officers were already beginning combat operations. The Viet Cong and the south of Vietnam were starting to fight as America trained troops to be prepared to go into combat. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent a team to report on conditions along the 17th parallel. This is when the “Domino Theory” started. It was believed that if one southeast fell into communism, the rest of the Southeast Asian countries would follow. Although Kennedy increased U.S. presence in Vietnam, he did not launch a full military intervention. In November of 1963, Ngo Dinh Diem was killed, just 3 weeks before Kennedy was assassinated. With the deaths of both leaders, military presence along the 17th parallel was increased. Although not fully involved in the conflict yet, the threat of communism taking hold in Southeast Asia caused enough concern to the U.S. government that the beginning of military involvement seemed justified.
The U.S. involvement officially started in 1964 in retaliation for a torpedo attack, which is a justifiable reason for fighting back. This incident is known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident. President Johnson was now president. Vietnam launched torpedos at U.S destroyer boats causing president Johnson to order bombing in North Vietnamese harbors. This was the unofficial declaration of war. President Johnson did this without congressional approval. This is what started the active fight against North Vietnam. In this case, Congress was not involved with the declaration of war; President Johnson did it himself. The war itself lasted 20 years, while the U.S. was involved 11 of those 20 years. The complete conflict dragged on from 1955 to 1973 with heavy casualties of both civilians and soldier. The Vietnam War took place in Vietnam with some trails and camps crossing the border into Cambodia and Laos, two of the neighboring countries. This war directly involved the U.S. and Vietnam, but other countries were indirectly involved like the Soviet Union at the time. The war was begun for what seemed to be a perceived and then an actual threat to the U.S.
After the war, the War Powers Act was put into place. This was a legislative order that was put into place after the U.S. surrendered to Vietnam. This act was put into place to check presidential power to declare war and was a reaction to the American public’s disapproval of the conflict. The act states that the president has 48 hours to notify Congress of a declaration and military action and a further 60 days to end military activities in that area. President Nixon vetoed the act, but Congress overruled. The Legislative branch proposed the bill initially, with the followed support of the executive branch. According to the U.S constitution, the power to declare war is the role of the executive branch, specifically the military commander in chief. The president as well as the Congress. This act does abide by the laws of the constitution. This is because the president who is the command in chief of the military directs the armed forces, but the Congress has the power to declare war and check the president’s power. The War Powers Act just supports the relationship between Congress and the president on whether to declare war or not.
There were some consequences to enacting this law. The War Powers Act meant a delay in military action unless Congress and the president could agree on sending troops into conflict. This would mean that tensions could rise without U.S. presence. Another consequence is that many U.S. presidents have generally ignored this rule, some considering it “unconstitutional.” According to Nixon, the act: “would attempt to take away, by a mere legislative act, authorities which the President has properly exercised under the constitution for almost 200 years.” Presidents such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have all sent troops into conflict without congressional approval. Many critics have stated that the War Powers Act has not done its job because it does not create a smooth communication between the legislative and executive branches. There have been calls for the act to be repealed. In 1995, a proposal to repeal the key components of the War Powers Act was denied with a vote of 217-204.
The Vietnam war was legal before 1973, but after the act was passed it was not justified. Before the War Powers Act, the president’s act of sending troops without congressional approval was a problem, with cases like President Polk and the Mexican American War. However, after Vietnam, the act was put in place to prevent “future” Vietnams. When Johnson sent troops to fight back against Vietnam, he was reacting out of fear and immediate concern. The U.S. was concerned with the spread of communism and wanted to fight back immediately. It was justified at the time, and at the time that Johnson declared war in 1964, it was not yet illegal. Looking back at Vietnam, however, it result does not justify the loss of life. The U.S. ended up surrendering after killing thousands of unarmed civilians and Vietnamese troops. The war never ended up solving what it was concerned with. Vietnam fell under the northern communist rule. If we look back at what the war accomplished, it was not worth it. This war was fought to stop the spread of communism, but instead, blood was shed to delay the spread of communism, with some thinking the war just delayed the inevitable.
Works Cited.
Goldberg, Maren. War Powers Act. Britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. April 16, 2009. Web. May 18, 2019.
Vietnam War. History.com. A&E Television Networks. October 29, 2009. Web, May 15, 2019.
War Powers Act. History.com. A&E Television Networks. November 30, 2017. Web. May 16, 2019.
Zinn, Howard, and Anthony Arnove. A People's History of the United States. New York. Harper, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2017. Print.
 |
| U.S. Marines. "U.S. Marines In Operation Allen Brook." 8, May 1968. Wikimedia Commons, |
Friday, April 26, 2019
Is Health Insurance for Everyone?
This is the first unit of the final Junior humanities class Policy. In the first unit "Legislative," we learned all about the legislative branch of the government. We asked ourselves what policy really means, and what the difference between a policy and a law. We also looked at different policies made by the government or others. We looked at how a bill becomes a law, and how the different branches can check each other. We also learned about war and how war is declared. We had a debate in class about whether the U.S. should have joined WWI. We looked at the declaration of war and researched how the war affected the economy. For our FE we went to the Chicago City Council and met with officials and discussed issues around the city. We also met with Alderman Elect Andre Vasquez in his office in Andersonville. We discussed how city officials create and vote on policy. For this project, we had to write a letter to our representative. This could be an alderman, a state representative, or a house representative. I chose my district representative Danny K Davis who represents the 7th ward in the Chicago area. I do not live in Chicago so I don't have an alderman. We had to write about a current bill being proposed, and we had to encourage them to vote on it or not. I wrote to Representative Davis about health insurance for all. I chose this because I want to go into the medical field and I don't want to see people denied care because of their financial status.
Danny K. Davis
Congressman for the 7th District of Illinois
2815 West 5th Avenue
Chicago Illinois 60612
Dear Rep. Davis,
Did you know that 27 million people in the United States do not have health insurance? Another 38 million do not have adequate healthcare. I believe that all Americans have the right to health insurance. Health care is a basic need that everyone deserves no matter their income. The Health Care For All of 2019 act would ensure that every United States citizen would get health care coverage. I would like to tell you why I think you should vote on this bill.
Many people who do not have medical insurance delay or do not undergo necessary medical procedures out of need. This causes unnecessary health complications not due to lack of medical care, but because of lack of money. The number of uninsured people has fluctuated over the years. In 2008, when the financial crisis hit, over 44 million or 17.1% of the population were uninsured. In 2016, the number of uninsured people decreased from 44 million to around 27 million or 10% of the population was uninsured. Many people remain uninsured because of high costs and coverage not being available through jobs. The people who remain uninsured are most commonly low-income families, especially of color. According to the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation: “One in five uninsured adults in 2017 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that the uninsured are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases.” Another key fact is that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicare.
I would like to go into the medical field, and I do not believe in turning patients away or having patients not come because of financial reasons. If people come in for treatment, no matter if it is serious or not, they should be able to be treated with the same care anyone with any income should be. If people are not coming to be treated, underlying more serious issues may not be diagnosed until it is too late. A person who has regular check-ups and seeks medical attention when they feel is needed are far more likely to have a serious condition diagnosed early, and treated properly. According to the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation: People without insurance coverage have worse access to care than people who are insured. “One in five uninsured adults in 2017 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that the uninsured are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases.” As a person who is passionate about medicine, and believes that everyone has the right to be treated equally, I think this is an extremely important issue that needs to be addressed. The issue could be addressed by the signing of the Healthcare For All Act of 2019
Imagine a woman not being able to get regular Pap smears to screen for cancer, or a child no being able to get vaccinated for preventable illnesses. These are the kinds of issues uninsured Americans are facing right now. Medications, check-ups, procedures, surgeries, tests are covered by Medicare. Families who do not have access to Medicare have to pay out of pocket for these expensive necessary treatments which can range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A patient with diabetes should not have to pay out of pocket for a life-saving drug like insulin. According to The Hill. over 7 million Americans rely on insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association, the average price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013. Insulin is a life-saving drug and it is unfathomable that low-income people have to pay prices decided by for-profit companies.
The signing and progression of the Health Care For All Act of 2019 would ensure that all Americans would have health insurance. This act would eliminate private insurance companies and would give hospitals and other health care centers an annual budget. This means that people of all incomes could get the medication, procedures, tests, checkups, and surgeries they need. This would greatly reduce the number of fatalities related to unknown and undiagnosed medical conditions. According to Modern Healthcare, “Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D- Wash.) told reporters that the goal of the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which has more than 100 co-sponsors, is to completely overhaul the U.S. healthcare system and convert it to a government-run entity.”
There are some downsides to the bill. According to Modern Healthcare: Jayapal expects that around one to two million people would be out of work if the legislation becomes law because of the elimination of most private insurance. She said that 1% of the global budget for hospitals will go to a fund to provide services to displaced workers in the insurance industry. "This could include pension benefits, include any number of things that would take care of these workers as we transition," Jayapal said. "I do think there will be a boon to the economy once we get healthcare under control,"Jayapal added that a private insurance industry could still exist, but they couldn't cover the same benefits as Medicare, which include coverage of prescription drugs, hospital and physician services and long-term care services. However, insurers could cover services such as cosmetic surgery or other types of elective benefits.” Even though there would be an adjustment period for the healthcare system and the economy, the long term outcome would greatly benefit generations to come. With the health care for all act, we could make the lives of so many Americans better.
In the Declaration of Independence described Americans unalienable rights. These are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. With millions of Americans without insurance and without live-saving medications and procedures, these unalienable rights are not being met. A person who is constantly sick is not happy, a person who dies because of their lack of income is being denied life. So I urge you, please help make America a better place by voting yes on the Health Care for All Act of 2019.
Sincerely,
-CM
In conclusion, this was an interesting project. It was hard to find a bill that was still current and that I want to write about. I think choosing a very talked about bill was a good idea because there are a lot of opinions and information about the bill. I am proud of the research I did. I think I found some meaningful statistics and facts that can grab attention. I hope you like my project!
Works Cited:
"Healthcare Crisis: Who's At Risk?" PBS.org. Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 24, April 2019.
"Key Facts About The Uninsured Population." KFF.org Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Dec 07, 2018. Web. 24, April 2019.
King, Robert. "House Democrats Introduce 'Medicare for All' bill." Modern Healthcare. Crain Communications. Web. Feb 27, 2019.
Pramila Jayapal "HR 1384: Medicare For All Act of 2019." Govtrack.us. Feb 27, 2019. Web. 24, April 2019.
"Sky Rocketing Insulin Prices Provoke New Outrage." HeHill.com. Web. 24, April 2019.
Danny K. Davis
Congressman for the 7th District of Illinois
2815 West 5th Avenue
Chicago Illinois 60612
Dear Rep. Davis,
Did you know that 27 million people in the United States do not have health insurance? Another 38 million do not have adequate healthcare. I believe that all Americans have the right to health insurance. Health care is a basic need that everyone deserves no matter their income. The Health Care For All of 2019 act would ensure that every United States citizen would get health care coverage. I would like to tell you why I think you should vote on this bill.
Many people who do not have medical insurance delay or do not undergo necessary medical procedures out of need. This causes unnecessary health complications not due to lack of medical care, but because of lack of money. The number of uninsured people has fluctuated over the years. In 2008, when the financial crisis hit, over 44 million or 17.1% of the population were uninsured. In 2016, the number of uninsured people decreased from 44 million to around 27 million or 10% of the population was uninsured. Many people remain uninsured because of high costs and coverage not being available through jobs. The people who remain uninsured are most commonly low-income families, especially of color. According to the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation: “One in five uninsured adults in 2017 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that the uninsured are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases.” Another key fact is that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicare.
I would like to go into the medical field, and I do not believe in turning patients away or having patients not come because of financial reasons. If people come in for treatment, no matter if it is serious or not, they should be able to be treated with the same care anyone with any income should be. If people are not coming to be treated, underlying more serious issues may not be diagnosed until it is too late. A person who has regular check-ups and seeks medical attention when they feel is needed are far more likely to have a serious condition diagnosed early, and treated properly. According to the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation: People without insurance coverage have worse access to care than people who are insured. “One in five uninsured adults in 2017 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that the uninsured are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases.” As a person who is passionate about medicine, and believes that everyone has the right to be treated equally, I think this is an extremely important issue that needs to be addressed. The issue could be addressed by the signing of the Healthcare For All Act of 2019
Imagine a woman not being able to get regular Pap smears to screen for cancer, or a child no being able to get vaccinated for preventable illnesses. These are the kinds of issues uninsured Americans are facing right now. Medications, check-ups, procedures, surgeries, tests are covered by Medicare. Families who do not have access to Medicare have to pay out of pocket for these expensive necessary treatments which can range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A patient with diabetes should not have to pay out of pocket for a life-saving drug like insulin. According to The Hill. over 7 million Americans rely on insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association, the average price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013. Insulin is a life-saving drug and it is unfathomable that low-income people have to pay prices decided by for-profit companies.
The signing and progression of the Health Care For All Act of 2019 would ensure that all Americans would have health insurance. This act would eliminate private insurance companies and would give hospitals and other health care centers an annual budget. This means that people of all incomes could get the medication, procedures, tests, checkups, and surgeries they need. This would greatly reduce the number of fatalities related to unknown and undiagnosed medical conditions. According to Modern Healthcare, “Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D- Wash.) told reporters that the goal of the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which has more than 100 co-sponsors, is to completely overhaul the U.S. healthcare system and convert it to a government-run entity.”
There are some downsides to the bill. According to Modern Healthcare: Jayapal expects that around one to two million people would be out of work if the legislation becomes law because of the elimination of most private insurance. She said that 1% of the global budget for hospitals will go to a fund to provide services to displaced workers in the insurance industry. "This could include pension benefits, include any number of things that would take care of these workers as we transition," Jayapal said. "I do think there will be a boon to the economy once we get healthcare under control,"Jayapal added that a private insurance industry could still exist, but they couldn't cover the same benefits as Medicare, which include coverage of prescription drugs, hospital and physician services and long-term care services. However, insurers could cover services such as cosmetic surgery or other types of elective benefits.” Even though there would be an adjustment period for the healthcare system and the economy, the long term outcome would greatly benefit generations to come. With the health care for all act, we could make the lives of so many Americans better.
In the Declaration of Independence described Americans unalienable rights. These are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. With millions of Americans without insurance and without live-saving medications and procedures, these unalienable rights are not being met. A person who is constantly sick is not happy, a person who dies because of their lack of income is being denied life. So I urge you, please help make America a better place by voting yes on the Health Care for All Act of 2019.
Sincerely,
-CM
 |
| U.S. House of Representatives. "Danny Davis" (2014) Wikimedia Commons. |
In conclusion, this was an interesting project. It was hard to find a bill that was still current and that I want to write about. I think choosing a very talked about bill was a good idea because there are a lot of opinions and information about the bill. I am proud of the research I did. I think I found some meaningful statistics and facts that can grab attention. I hope you like my project!
Works Cited:
"Healthcare Crisis: Who's At Risk?" PBS.org. Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 24, April 2019.
"Key Facts About The Uninsured Population." KFF.org Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Dec 07, 2018. Web. 24, April 2019.
King, Robert. "House Democrats Introduce 'Medicare for All' bill." Modern Healthcare. Crain Communications. Web. Feb 27, 2019.
Pramila Jayapal "HR 1384: Medicare For All Act of 2019." Govtrack.us. Feb 27, 2019. Web. 24, April 2019.
"Sky Rocketing Insulin Prices Provoke New Outrage." HeHill.com. Web. 24, April 2019.
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