The website fixed or not, the controversy about Obamacare will continue. But hopes springs eternal, so I offer one point of clarity that seems to be very needed.
Obamacare is about fundamental democratic values as much as it is about healthcare itself. Let me explain.
A major slam on Obamacare is that it is a symptom of government taking away our freedoms and trying to run our lives.
People who say this are confusing capitalism with democracy. The two are not at all the same.
Capitalism is an economic system with one basic value – the freedom to make money. That is all its about.
Democracy is a political system with numerous core values. Freedom is one, but not the only one. Others just as important are compassion, justice, shared responsibility, fairness, the common good, the common defense, and others.
Because of these different values, a democratic form of government has the solemn duty to do everything it can to balance them.
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are examples of this kind of democratic effort.
If the government had not created these programs, economic Darwinism or a philosophy of the survival of the fittest would have been left to rule our economy, which in fact was precisely what was happening when the Great Depression hit in 1929.
The Voting Rights Act (whose major element was struck down by a very naive and misguided Supreme Court) was another example. Had the government not passed it minorities would still be fighting for the right to vote, as they are having to do now because of the Supreme Court ruling.
Obamacare is another example of government trying to balance values we hold dear as a democratic society.
Before it was passed the insurance industry controlled access to healthcare in our nation with profit as its only goal. When President Obama proposed the Affordable Care Act, Republicans were offering nothing as an alternative. Nothing. Not something. Nothing.
In the name of values other than the freedom to make money, values like compassion, justice, shared responsibility, fairness, the common good, and the common defense, the ACA was passed into law.
So the next time you hear someone complain about Obamacare, ask them what they recommend to take its place that affirms those values and seriously tries to balance them.
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Thanks for your simplification of the facts and clarification on Democracy and Capitalism. So many misguided citizens hearing inaccurate information. Maybe a book—Politics for Dummies would work!
Virginia, I would be writing it for myself. Maybe it would help others!
A excellent summary, It will be very useful to many in understanding the basics of the situation.
Some people say that Obamacare is Socialism. Generally, they don’t know what socialism is, but they know (with certainty) that it is BAD. Socialism is, by definition, an economic system in which the state owns the means of production and distribution. I think everyone has to agree that we do not have such a thing in America and Obamacare is not one of those things. Socialism is also NOT a political system, as Democracy is.
They also call Obamacare “government run” health care. It is NOT that either. Our health care system is, and will continue to be, run by the health care & insurance industries. Your definition of Obamacare is a good one.
Thank you Jan for the reminder about values; as talking about it renews us. Exploring our values in this issue resets our compass and gives us greater access to our deepest sources of energy, vision, and hope. Working with the values you mentioned becomes a force for collective change. It helps us remember our sense of meaning within “the big picture” as a nation. Indeed, touching base with our values gives us the depth of moral support that we often need to keep going.
Touche’ on this article, Jan, and to all of these supportive responses. It truly coincides with national and world-wide sentiments being expressed daily by ordinary people, and recently Pope Francis, clamoring for respect and justice from a capitalistic system which has become cartel-like. The most undermined value in all of this is “brotherly love”, akin, of course, to love of God, expressed through government as an array of social safety nets and expressed eloquently in the words of Article 25 of the UN Charter on Human Rights. It is so unfortunate to have to fight the human rights battle generation after generation, but, it seems we must. Thanks again for your concise arguments in their support.
Still hanging on every word. Thanks for this post esp.!
Just glad to know you are still reading them, Luke. Many thanks.