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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2009)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, August 20, 2009 To Your Health! By Judy Hargis, P.A., and Audeen Wagner Health Care Reform: How Important is it ? Let’s take a moment to catch our breath and step away from politics, personal interest groups, corporate agendas and emotional reactions sur- rounding health care reform. These are challeng- ing times for our nation on many levels. There are very complex issues involved and everyone has an opinion and should be able to express it. The question is how to solve such a huge problem. Especially, when the problems we face today, including health care, feel insurmountable to most of us. The problems have developed over a long period of time. They are very real and there is no “magic answer” out there. It took us a long time to get here and it will take a long time to improve it. We fear change, but we want things fixed at the same time. We want the president and our legislators to fix it, or not, but can’t get our heads around the complexities involved. They are charged with represent- ing everyone in this country, not one individual or group. The President does not have the power to singlehandedly develop a solution and solve the problem. It falls to our representatives, in the House and Senate, to pro- pose solutions and find consensus among themselves in order to “make change happen”. It is on us to hold them accountable. Unfortunately, at times it feels like the focus is on party politics and worries over the next election rather than the busi- ness at hand. We believe that it doesn’t matter whether you are a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, if you are operating out of self-interest or party politics it benefits no one. We believe everyone needs to pull together for real change to happen. Think about this, the US spends more on health care than any other country, yet ranks behind 18 other industrialized nations in medically preventable deaths. That says a lot. We bring this up because I (Judy Hargis) have worked in health care for 25 years and I have watched our healthcare system fall apart, becoming affordable and accessible to fewer and fewer people. Sure, there are people who still have decent insurance through their employers, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for employers to pay for it and employees see rising premiums year after year. Then there are all the people who have lost their jobs when there are few new jobs to be found. There is COBRA coverage for people who have been layed off, but with the high premiums attached to it, most people could not afford the cost even with a job. We have a Medicaid/Medicare sys- tem that covers the elderly and low-income families who qualify, but there can be high cost involved and there are limitations to coverage. What happens to everyone else? There are estimates that people are losing health coverage every day. While some of us may still have good coverage or the money to pay for our care, there are millions of hard working people or people who are no longer employed, who have no coverage and have to choose between healthcare or their rent, medications or groceries. These are hard choices and peo- ple have no option in most cases because they need a home, food and heat. Also, consider the growing problem of obesity and chronic medical problems in adults and children and what effect that will have on the future of health care? At the rate we are proceeding, it will be devastating. We don’t have a solution but do believe that if we all pull together and let our rep- resentatives in the Legislature know that we are tired of politics as usual and that we want them to start working for “us,” the people who placed our trust in them when we voted them into public office, not the lobbyists who represent corporations that benefit from maintaining the status quo. Remember that every day people are denied surgeries, procedures or care for preexisting health problems by insurance companies with high paid CEOs and high profits. This could happen to any one of us. All any of us can do is look at the facts and expect people who were voted into office by us to work hard to create Health Reform that makes health care affordable and accessible for all. A plan that does not disrupt our relationship with our current health care provider, does not change health plans that are working, but creates new plans and options. It is not possible for our Health Care System to continue on its current path. The goal should be positive change. It is NOT about socialized medicine or a sin- gle payer system. It is about getting back to what is important. At the heart of a true democracy is the opportunity for real conversation to facilitate needed change and a movement to make it happen. We do not propose to have the “answer” but be- lieve in the power of the people. Change will not come about through blame and intolerance. It will take thought- ful, committed people who are willing to work hard and can visualize the “WE the people” as part of the solution. We are not writing this in support of a political par- ty or agenda, but in support of a healthy conversation by all, by encouraging every- one. To be well informed, and ask you to listen carefully and base your recommen- dations about what needs to happen coming to well thought out ideas. Disrupting Town Hall meetings, shouting matches, pointing fingers and not al- lowing others to have the conversation will not solve this problem. Critical thinking, speaking out, listening and realizing that we are all affected by this issue. That is what makes our country a democracy. There is a lot of anger and mis-information flying around right now. We all need to step back, take a breath and get the facts. The right kind of health reform will serve us well in the long run. A recent quote in Time magazine: “The debate over health care reform is a case study of how spe- cial interests trump the common good”. Don’t allow scare tactics by special interest groups to cloud the facts. It is time for the common good to take precedence again. As always, we welcome your com- ments. You can reach us at The Independent, 725 Bridge Street or email us at: health@the-independent.net Informative sources: www. aarp.com and Time Magazine: Health Care special report, Au- gust 10, 2009. Annual Montana Picnic will be Sept. 6 The 19th annual Montana Picnic will be held Sunday, September 6, starting at 11:00 a.m at Horseshoe Lake Park in Woodland, Washington. Anyone who lived in Mon- tana, has family in Montana, or has just heard of Montana is welcome to bring a potluck item and your own utensils. There will be free coffee and pop, and prizes will be given away. Any musicians are welcome, too. For more information, call 503-543-3800 (Scappoose). Come on in for our Friday and Saturday Night Specials Mariolino’s 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 Bear Creek Run was a success With 71 people – 18 for the 10K and 53 for the 5K Run/Walk – signed up for the 7th annual Vernonia Bear Creek Run/Walk, this year’s event raised around $1700, through event sponsorship and run registrations, for Vernonia Cares food bank. 10K Results: Men – 1st Place Rodney Schroene of Vancouver, WA, 42:49; 2nd Place Shehan Prull of Santa Fe, NM, 44:19; 3rd Place McCoy Smith of Port- land, 45:.37 Women – 1st Place Colette Binford of Vernonia, 49:43, tied for 2nd Place were mother & daughter Kellie Murray & Tiffany Ruby, both of Vernonia, 54:57; 3rd Place Liz Byrne of Beaverton, 55:42. 5K run: Men – 1st Place Derek Han- degard of Vernonia, 19:24; a very close 2nd Place Alan Beck of Warrenton, 19:49; 3rd Place Tim Becken of Vernonia, 19:26. Women – 1st Place Rachel Shelly (age 16) of Portland, 19:47, 2nd Place Danica Roady of Portland, 25:20; 3rd Place Gillian Canada of Hills- boro, 29:05. 5K walk: 1st and 2nd Places to moth- er and daughter (for a second year) Brenda and Emma Mc- Court, of Banks, 51:14.