Socially Acceptable

In the same way many of us are scared of snakes and bats and spiders, most Americans are terrified of certain words. These words usually cause an immediate response, such as a higher pulse rate, narrowing of the eyes, and possibly a pronounced shiver down the spine. The “IRS” or “Internal Revenue Service” has a negative connotation (unless they are sending us a refund check), and most of us live in some fear that one day they will knock on our door to perform another scary word: audit. We fear hearing words like “lay-off,” “reduction in force,” “cancer,” “affair,” and “infection.” We don’t like bad things to happen, especially to us. That’s human nature.

Other words have become negative, because of who we are, and what our culture has told us. No red-blooded American in the last century has been keen on the word “communism.” After the “red scare” of the 1950’s, and the images and memories of kids crawling under their desks during “bomb drills,” the words “communism” and “communist” have represented our enemy. Walls were built to keep them from us and us from them. Neither side wanted to be tainted with the confused, evil ideology of the other.

Toward the end of the last century and especially at the beginning of this one, the impact of words “terrorist” and “terrorism” surged to an entirely new level. Words like “profiling” and “water-boarding” became a part of our vocabulary. We developed a color coded threat system to alert us to assumed levels of danger at any given time. We bought massive amounts of duct tape.

Considering that we call our nation “the home of the brave,” we have no trouble finding things to fear.

Words are powerful. They illicit vivid images and feelings in those that hear and read them. They can be used for a great deal of good or cause a great deal of damage. We’ve all had words that come into our heads that we know we shouldn’t say, but can’t stop our mouths from uttering them. I have said things to people I love that I regret…words that can be apologized for but never forgotten. Once the word is said, it can’t be unheard.

One of the words I have heard repeatedly in the news for the last year is “socialism.” It’s one of those scary words that we, as Americans, believe threatens our way of life. Considering the economic crisis we’ve fallen under in the last 18 months, I can’t help but question how good “capitalism” has been for our way of life either, but that’s beside the point.

Allow me to quote the genius of Ferris Bueller, “Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism's in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.”

So, let me be perfectly clear…I am not condoning Socialism. I am a strong believer in smaller government, less control and less spending. Giving more power to a system that is already bloated, wasteful and corrupt is not an intelligent option.


My problem has been the use of the word “socialism” as a scare tactic in the discussion over Health Care Reform. When did concern for those less fortunate become a bad thing? When did trying to help those in need become synonymous with “evil.”

Most Americans agree that there is a serious problem with our Heath Care system. Those who have good jobs with health insurance are seeing higher premiums and reduced benefits. Those without good jobs or no jobs at all cannot afford any insurance. People are being forced into bankruptcy and losing their homes over sky-rocketing medical bills and insurance red-tape that will not pay due to “pre-existing conditions” and exempt services.

There are many sides to the health care debate, and they are all slippery. Should we require everyone to get insurance? How will those who cannot afford it pay the premiums? Do you enforce the requirement by instituting fines? (That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me…how can you fine someone who can’t afford to buy insurance?)

Others say that if a healthy twenty-five year old doesn’t want to pay for insurance, then they shouldn’t have to…even if they have a good job and can afford it. Well, that doesn’t make sense either. That is why it’s called “insurance.” You don’t need it when you are healthy…it’s there for you when and if you get sick. If that logic worked for everything then I will cancel my auto insurance and wait to get it after I get in an accident.

Of course, the other big concern is how much health care reform will cost and how will we pay for it. I really have no idea how much it will cost, but I’m guessing A LOT and like everything else our government does, we will pay for it with our taxes.

What isn’t being discussed is the fact that we are paying for a lot of these expenses already. Patients without any health care insurance cannot be refused treatment if they show up at a hospital with a life threatening illness. This kind of treatment is either paid for by our government (our tax-dollars) or absorbed by the hospital as a loss and recovered through increased fees on those who can pay (through our higher insurance premiums).

This is potentially a no-win situation. If our government rushes through a comprehensive Health Care Reform Act, then it will no doubt find a way to screw it up. Logic seems to be removed from all elected officials of both parties once they take office, and doing the right thing somehow means compromising to the point of ineffectiveness. Spending a lot of money on something that won’t fix the problem is simply stupid. Our government has proven that many times before, but has yet to learn the lesson.

Considering the fact that we have needed Health Care Reform for decades and nothing has been done, it might be prudent to step back and take it slower. Baby steps will still advance the cause and might not cause the stumbles and injuries that a gallop from the gate on wobbly legs would almost certainly cause. Let someone besides politicians, lobbyists and plan providers have a go at devising a solution. There are some very smart people in this world, ask their opinion.

Although I’m suggesting that we slow down, I pray that we do not stop the effort. Fear of failure, or of words that do not accurately describe the situation, should not hinder us from trying to find a solution. We do have a problem. There are people in need. Do we sit back and say “I have insurance, so why should I care about the 46 million Americans who do not?” Is that who we are? Does that make us better than the “socialists” that we hate so much?

I have a friend who cannot afford health insurance. Once a year she stands in line for hours at the Remote Area Medical Clinic Free weekend, doing what she can to stay healthy and take care of herself within a very limited household budget. Thanks to the wonderful RAM clinic volunteers she gets some of the help she needs, but not the peace of mind she deserves and the comfort of knowing that if she gets sick between those annual visits she will receive the treatment needed.


Some will say that people will abuse the system. It’s happened with Medicaid, Welfare and Food Stamps and it will happen again with whatever system is put in place for Healthcare. There are those who will take advantage, but it won’t be everyone, and it won’t even be the majority. There are good people out there who desperately need the help of their fellow Americans. They don’t want a “hand-out” just a "helping hand.” What good are we if we turn our back on that?