Health care should be free in the U.S.
Human lives are unpredictable, and it’s impossible to prepare for everything.
Worry not, as here in America, we have health care to help improve and protect our communities from illness and injuries. All you have to do is simply pay for your medical bill, taxes and medical insurance.
However, many Americans express their dislike for the medical system entirely due to a multitude of reasons. These include poor service from medical staff, long wait times, lack of availability, out-of-network problems, as well as the astronomical cost.
America has one of the highest costs of health care in the world. In 2022, health care spending reached $4.5 trillion, which averages to about $13,000 per person. Americans pay double of what citizens from other wealthy countries pay for their medical care.
Here in Hawaii, local people pay about $469 per month on medical insurance, including taxes. Last year alone, taxpayers paid about $1.8 trillion in medical care. Moreover, with all this funding from the people, health care should be top-notch, with a lot of well-paid doctors and nurses ready to help.
Unfortunately this isn’t the case, as the United States ranks 11th in the World Index of Health Care. While 11th place isn’t horrible, we are being outdone by much-less-developed countries. Furthermore, three of the top four countries on the list have universal, free health care, something that the U.S. government has repeatedly denied.
While it’s not a simple issue of just making health care free, I believe free health care should be the nation’s No. 1 priority in order to protect its people.
The government spends millions/billions on other issues that don’t need as much attention. Instead of sending millions overseas to other nations, we should use our tax dollars to help our own citizens first.
Devyn Capellas
Hilo
Obesity is a major American problem
COVID-19 czar Anthony Fauci should have been focused on the plus-size epidemic instead. America has one of the heaviest populations in the world.
Obesity-related diseases probably kill more people than COVID.
Before, McDonald’s was only five minutes away. Now, it’s at your door.
The next step will be fast food drones to your couch! You won’t even have to strain a single calorie walking to your door or car!
We have been trained from childhood to have an absolutely abhorrent diet by pop culture, but we know better. So, we’re addicted. But overeating bad stuff is a substitute for something else (lost love, dashed dreams, hapless hopes, etc.)
Hence, finding or creating that sense of fulfillment is essential to long-lasting, healthy eating. Holistically, being fulfilled in the spiritual/emotional sense reduces the desire to be filled in the junk food sense.
So, what healthy fulfillment do you need?
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu