Health Care - What is it President Obama?

Health reform is here - again. President Obama has declared America's health
care a critical challenge - deserving immediate legislative solutions.

But the very definition of 'Health' is at the heart of this debate is it not?
Are the band aids we've come to call health care (surgery & drugs) what we're
really fighting over? Or want?

This argument is not really about health - it is about the distribution and accumulation of wealth.

A truly healthier America cannot be achieved by looking at it through the narrow lens we're accustomed to or expecting this legislation will necessarily lead to a healthier America. We have become afraid of not having what these industries contribute to our health - or lack of.

Are we simply pawns in an economic power play?

It is an abtruse play between us, the American taxpayers, the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. It's a big fight - it's BIG money and it's our lives. We should make sure it plays out in our best interest - there's too much at stake. And we all deserve the best possible health care - at a price we can all afford.

To start, clarity about what we want and are willing,on a personal level, to
commit to would go a long way in solving our legislator's challenge. Do we
really want health or a simple solution like the ones the drug companies suggest
they've discovered and are perpetually uncovering to resolve yet another newly
defined disease?

Optimal health is more than a doctor writing prescriptions for the latest and
greatest drugs or performing the most extraordinary new surgeries. It is more than the insurance company deciding whether or not the cost will be covered.

Fundamentally, our desire for convenient, simple solutions and, immediate
gratification fuels the need for what we've come to call 'health care'. A pill is
easy. Fast food and convenience foods are easy - and simple in the short term.
Continuing to consider only the short term is not a solution. It is what brought us
to where we are now.

There's no doubt.

Where health is concerned America is in trouble.
Heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and obesity rates have soared - along with the cost of conventional treatment. Our country is much sicker now than ever.

To a large extent the state of our health is a result of the times we live in- and, not insignificantly our approach to health care. The world we live in today is not what it was 50 or 100 years ago. These diseases,this sickness is driving what we believe to be a need for health insurance as we know it. And are convinced we must have. It is as though we expect there is no choice but to become gravely ill. We are petrified to be without the insurance that will assure our care and financial survival.

We have choices.
Prevention is a choice. Wellness is achievable.
Preventing disease means learning and understanding what makes our bodies
work - and what makes them break down. Preventing the break down allows
good health - wellness.

This is health insurance worth fighting for.

We must each take responsibility to change what needs changed. Growing and
eating clean, healthy, nutritional foods. Walking, running, playing. i.e., exercise.
every day. And teaching each other and our children how to protect health
rather than feed ourselves and our children food that makes us unwell and
teaching practices that erode the healthy, vibrant, resiliant system we live in - our bodies.

Legislatively, the money we're arguing is important. It, for now. is a big ticket - it's a big job. But rather than allocating monies for one or another form of traditional insurance funds should be redistributed. Basic and catastrophic coverage for everyone. And an equal level committed to massive public health education initiatives. Educational programs focusing on nutrition and natural healing for health care providers, (M.D.'s included). Concurrent with school funding to teach children basic and ongoing nutritional mastery including the establishment and maintainence public gardens. Mandate and provide healthy, nutritional school lunches.

When we begin to teach each other and future generations how to best protect
their health through nutritition we'll have many fewer arguments about who should have the privilege of getting the latest and greatest heart meds or languish in the hospital or die prematurely from complications of obesity.

The argument we are engaged in now is not really about health -

it is about thedistribution of wealth. A truly healthy America cannot be achieved through legislation alone. We must open our minds about what precisely 'Health Care' means. And take action.

President Obama we elected you to make change. This is the change we need.