The city of New York is taking the lead in how it cares for its citizens.
While most governing bodies tend more to look at their residents as a cash cow as a result of the taxes they pay, New York is finally breaking from traditions in that regard. They are taking a new approach in how they look at the most populated city in the United States.
Since the tax dollars from the citizens of a community is what keeps it funded, New York has taken steps to protect and ensure tax revenue from those citizens. They have shown the most important and valuable asset to the city are its people.
To protect the citizens of New York city, Mayor Bill De Blasio announced the city is in plans to make healthcare a right — and not just for those with money. New York will guarantee all of its residents will have dignity regarding themselves and their families.
This policy makes sense on a number of levels.
Emergency Room as your primary source of healthcare
If you think people that do not have health insurance do not go to the doctor you are being mislead. The emergency room is their healthcare provider.
Now since they are uninsured, who pays the bill?
The facts are, we all pay for it.
President Ronald Reagan (R) made it mandatory in 1985 for all emergency rooms to treat anyone that walks in, period.
Personally, I have no problem with helping to pay for another human beings healthcare. I live by the Good Samaritan rule. Republicans feel differently. Odd since they claim to be the party based on Christian principles.
Now it just makes common sense to treat high blood pressure for $10 per month than $100,000+ for an emergency room visit for a stroke. Just sounds more fiscally responsible to me. If the law says I have to help pay for someone’s healthcare I would rather it be preventative care rather than emergency room expenses.
Why do I have to pay?
All of us pay taxes in one form or another, so everyone contributes to the system. Whether it be Property Tax, Sales Tax, Gasoline Tax, Income Tax, etc… everyone contributes. Yes, some of are in a position that requires us to be in the category that pays all those taxes and more.
If you fall into the class that just pays State Sales Tax, your contribution helps fund law enforcement, fire, education, transportation, water and National Guard — just to name a few. There are countless uses of our tax dollars that we never use, yet when it come to helping our fellow man there comes a roadblock to exercising empathy.
New York Shows it is about time
Thank you Mayor De Blasio for demonstrating what a leader of the people looks like.
We are the wealthiest nation in the world and yet we provide the most expensive healthcare system and provide the least amount of care for it. It gives me hope in mankind that we have the ability to treat one another the way we want to be treated. It is the Golden Rule, no matter what faith you cling to.
Government at the local level is still the most important government where every citizen has the mantra of one voice one vote.
