It's 6:45 p.m. and graduate assistant Ashley Sweeny's night is still not over. Sweeny works for the recreation program and is a graduate assistant in charge of fitness. Her 20-hour weeks are filled with constant work.
When I asked many of the student workers, including Sweeny, at Ball State University if they receive health insurance, they responded, not angrily, but with a firm no.
Sweeny said she is covered by her parents' insurance until she finishes her schooling.
Ball State student employees are not the only people whose job does not provide them with health insurance. About 38 million Americans' jobs do not offer health insurance, or they are not qualified to receive it, or they simply just cannot afford it. The health care crisis is becoming epidemic.
Some think a solution to the epidemic would be universal health care.
There are many sides to the argument. On one hand, there is the question of whether it should be a right for Americans to be provided with health insurance. Some think it is not the government's responsibility to provide Americans with affordable health care. There is nothing in our Constitution that states it is their job. What people don't realize is once you put such a large responsibility into the hands of the government, they will then have complete control over the outcome. They will be able to say if you are qualified for treatment, whom your doctor should be and when your surgery will be.
On the other hand, I feel that the Constitution says we were born with certain "inalienable rights," and part of our rights include everyone being entitled to health care. The government was made for the people and to help the people. It isn't fair that some people, for example Sweeny, are not granted health care when they work so hard.
Also, it is absurd that America, which is one of the most industrialized and wealthiest countries, isn't providing something so basic. Why is it that America, which is spending an astronomical amount of money on health care, isn't even reaping the benefits?
Then there is the question of how the government is going to acquire money to pay for universal health care. One way would be through raising Americans' taxes.
I, along with many other Americans, argue that you would not have to necessarily raise the taxes to pay for universal health care. The money that people are normally using to pay for premiums would be redistributed to pay for it. By providing Americans with universal health care, the economy would only prosper. People wouldn't be forced to sit at jobs they don't want but only stay with because the job provides them with health insurance. If everyone would receive health insurance, there would be more of a competition for jobs. Also, if companies did not have to worry about having to pay for their employee's health insurance, they could use their money to give employees bigger paychecks, meaning Americans would have more money, meaning they would be able to spend more, thus improving the economy.
Currently, Obama wants to provide a plan that is affordable and accessible to all Americans. He is creating a National Health Insurance Exchange, an agency that "purchases health insurance from private plants for millions upon millions of people," says E. Richard Brown, health policy adviser.
"Obama would provide income-based tax credit for individuals who enroll in these health plans."
This health care issue is not something that can be changed overnight, but it is something that everyone should be concerned about.
Meira Bienstock is a sophomore magazine major and writes 'Paradox of a plaided sweater' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the Daily News.
Write to Meira at mabienstock@bsu.edu
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