some reflections on HR 3590

I watched the passage of the Heath Care Reform Bill on C-Span Sunday night.  I was glad that it passed, but I had other things to think about that evening and couldn’t really “get into” it. 

Now, I reflect on this bill, just signed by the President yesterday, that is to become law in a couple weeks.  I ask myself: what does this bill and soon-to-be law really mean?  What does the activity leading up to the passage mean for American politics, freedom, and citizenship?

After reading the article, “In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality,” in the Business section of the NY Times today, it became much more clear to me why the Republicans and many Americans were so against this bill.  The Health Care Bill does much more than just ensure coverage to individuals; it is the means to creating economic equality as well.  Does and should health status=economic status?  How are these two in relationship with the other?  What is the correlation?  Is it more desired to ensure health or riches?

The definition of freedom becomes the divisive factor in this debate. 

What is freedom?  What are our rights?  Should we have the right to be healthy?  Or the right to be rich?  Is there a way for everyone to have both?  What does the Preamble really  mean when it claims that “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”?

It is apparent that this statement isn’t interpreted the same way by all. 

Many parts of the bill go into effect immediately that don’t seem to have much opposition, like the ban on denying someone insurance or hiking up the premiums because of pre-existing conditions.  However, the more controversial aspects go into effect in a few years: the requirement that everyone needs to buy insurance. 

Even with all these debates, some of them more hostile than others, you can’t ignore that this is the biggest piece of social legislation for decades.  This means it is supposed to help the American people and protect their freedoms.  However, depending on how you define freedom, how you see social legislation might change…