The U.S. Health Care Debate - It is all about greed by Steven Skelley

The U.S. Health Care Debate - It is all about greed by Steven Skelley

Mahatma Gandhi said, "There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."

This truth could not be more relevant and apparent than in the U.S. Health Care debate.

As the Democratic Party tries to make sure that every American citizen has access to lifesaving health care, their  Republican opponents do everything in their power to deny it. 

At almost every instance, Republicans cry that there is not  enough money to pay for medical care for American citizens.

I have always found it to be the height of hypocrisy that politicians who have the best health coverage money can buy provided for them by taxpayers for life, don't feel that every other Amerrican citizen deserves the same.

Since Republicans like to rant about the lack of funds available from insurance and health care providers, I would like to  suggest a simple solution. The public records of these same insurance and health care providers that Republicans say have no funds prove that tens of millions of dollars that COULD go to providing health care to American citizens in crises  INSTEAD go to ridiculously bloated salaries.

Take a look at these reported CEO annual salaries:

CEO of Aetna- $24,000,000
CEO of Cigna - $12,000,000
CEO of Coventry - $9,000,000
CEO of Wellpoint - $9,000,000
CEO of Health Net - $4,000,000
CEO of Humana - $4,000,000
CEO of United Health - $3,000,000

If those amounts (that could be going to actually treating the sick) don't turn your stomach already, listen to this: the  CEO of Liberty Mutual earned more than $50 million dollars between 2008 and 2010!

Since the Republicans also like to claim to be the voice of Christianity, let me quote the words of Jesus:

Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and  his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a  stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was SICK and in prison and you did not look after me." 

They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or SICK or in  prison, and did not help you?"

He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

Was it Jesus' way to take from the sick in order to line your own pockets? No.

Is it really the American way to deny someone lifesaving cancer treatment so that a Republican campaign donor can bank  a $10 million dollar salary? 

Is it "class warfare" to point out the hypocrisy?

The Founding Fathers that the Republicans like to bring up so much must turning in their graves.

Remember what Ghandi said, "There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."

Imagine how many American citizens in medical need could be helped if it weren't for Republican-backed corporate greed.

Thank God for the Affordable Health Care Act. Finally, someone is putting common sense, decency and mercy above man's greed.


****Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.