I have been a student at Virginia Tech for about a month and a half now and I have been having some great new experiences. Even though I have not been at Virginia Tech for very long, I have been able to meet many new people and attend numerous on campus activities. But the most fun I have had at Virginia Tech so far was during the football games against Miami and Marshall. Going to these football games has been the most exciting experience of my college career so far because I got the chance to witness and capture true “hokie spirit” while cheering for my college’s football team. Hokie spirit is having and expressing pride in Virginia Tech and school related events while still maintaining respect for others. Although the game its self is usually interesting to watch, all the little things everyone does to express their hokie spirit make the game so much more fun.
When I woke up on game day it seemed as if everyone, including myself, was putting on all the maroon, orange, and Virginia Tech attire they owned. Some people get very dressed up for the game by putting on orange and maroon afros, VT earrings, fake tattoos, or even paint their bodies in order to express their hokie spirit. For three of the home games, there are three specific colors the fans are supposed to wear in order to encourage their hokie spirit. These are referred to as a maroon effect, orange effect and white out games. The two games I have attended so far happen to be the white out and maroon effect games, so I wore those colors to show my hokie spirit. Once my friends and I got ready for the game against Marshall by putting on our white shirts we headed for the stadium to start tailgating.
Tailgating was a great experience for me at Virginia Tech because I got the chance to spend time with my friends while getting excited for the game that was coming up. Tailgating has a huge contribution in making the game a great experience so I was disappointed I did not go before the game against Miami because it was raining. However, the rain had no effect on many other people who still tailgated that day. Tailgating makes going to a football game so much more fun because there are so many people in the parking lots and there are so many things to do. Some of the things people do while tailgating include: playing corn hole or other games, walking around, making food on the grill, meeting and talking to different people, getting pumped for the game by chanting cheers, or just having a good time with family and friends. This is a great way to start out the day before going to a game because all the excitement it raises gets me ready to watch Virginia Tech football.
After tailgating, game days just keep getting even more exciting and enjoyable as the game time draws nearer. Once I was in my seat at lane stadium for the first time I was overwhelmed with amazement and excitement to see the stands filled with thousands of people all wearing white, maroon, and orange. The game usually starts off with one or more jets flying directly over the stadium. When they fly over, their jets are extremely loud and the crowd responds by cheering almost just as loud back. This is a great way to start off a football game because it excites the crowd and it’s not something people get the chance to see every day. After the jets fly over the stadium, the football players get to make their grand entrance. This was one of my favorite parts of going to a Virginia Tech football game because right before they come out they play “Enter Sandman” by Metallica and the crowd starts jumping to the beat. As we are still jumping, the football team comes running out on to the field and the entire stadium cheers. Doing this for the first time made me more excited than I have ever been at a football game because it got me so pumped.
But the crowd’s excitement (or mine) doesn’t stop after the football players come out. As the clock ticks down after the kick off, the football players continue to play and the crowd seems to grow louder with every catch, first down, sack, or touchdown that Virginia Tech makes. During the game, it is little things such as cheering, the band, the crowd, and the cheerleaders that make the football game so much more exciting and interesting. For example, the cheerleaders will start a cheer that the entire stadium will follow. They do it so that one side of the stadium yells “Let’s go!” and the other side responds by screaming “Hokies!” . It is so awesome because it seems like the entire stadium yells, so the cheer is extremely loud and it encourages the football team while keeping the crowd in the game at the same time.
Virginia Tech football games are very unique because of the different cheers and traditions people do when they watch them. Something that caught my attention while at the game was how every time Virginia Tech makes a touchdown, the cadets shoot a cannon. This is something that sets Virginia Tech apart from other colleges because not all colleges do it, it makes the game even more exciting, and it represents the corps of cadet’s hokie spirit in the game as well.
There are several other ways that Virginia Tech fans express their pride at football games which makes Lane Stadium a very exciting place to be on a game day. The fans at Virginia Tech play a major role in making football games a great experience because they will show up for the game rain or shine, filled with hokie respect, and ready to cheer on their team. Every Virginia Tech fan should go to a game at least once in their life because of the great hokie spirit the crowd possesses and is not afraid to express, the memorable time that is spent with family and friends, and because it is over all a fun experience.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Young People In Today's Society
Today’s society is much different than it was fifty, twenty, or even five years ago. Some of these differences have been for the betterment of our country and fellow countrymen, but most of the changes have had a negative effect on all of us. Most of these types of changes include video games, lack of censorship on television shows, and negative influences from celebrities. These changes have directly affected today’s youth—who hold the future of success for our country so therefore affects all of us—in a way that persuades them to be unproductive and behave in the wrong ways. For example a lack of censorship on television shows teaches young people to use offensive language, negative influences from celebrities may encourage teenagers to do drugs or alcohol, finally playing too many video games can cause a young person to because very lazy.
Some technological changes in America’s society today that a majority of young people have become addicted to are video games and watching television. Many members of today’s youth spend multiple hours a day playing on the Wii, PS2, or one of several other types of entertainment systems, while they could be doing something much more productive, such as reading a book, studying for school, or simply helping out around the household. I am not trying to say that everyone should never play video games, but it should definitely be kept down to a minimum and to where it does not affect any other priorities the young person may have. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the majority of young people today.
Before video games became popular, young people would go outside and play basketball or football. But now they stay inside and play Madden or NBA video games. This has the unfortunate result of our youth missing out on the proper exercise they need because they spend more time sitting in front of the T.V. instead of running around outside with their friends outside. This can lead to many problems such as obesity and laziness. We should encourage our youth to play sports, play outside with friends, and not spend so much time playing pointless video games that have no educational or physical benefits.
Televised broadcasts today are also having negative effects on our youth. There is not near as much censorship on television today as there was ten years ago. Now, people can say just about anything they want to, including “bitch”! This is a word I thought that would never be allowed to be said on television or on the radio. But now there are several inappropriate words like this one that are used frequently and casually on televised networks that young people listen to everyday.
Along with the excessive use of vulgar language on television, there is a lot of inappropriate sexual content as well. Television shows today will show people with the minimum or even no clothing on and some televise “love scenes” that could be considered to be nearly pornography. The lack of censorship on televisions and radios are not healthy for young people to be watching or hearing. It causes them to say or do inappropriate things without thinking they are doing anything wrong because they see it on a daily basis. Is this what we really want to be teaching our youth? Exposing our youth to this type of vulgar behavior only teaches them to act this way and it should be stopped. We should not be allowing this type of language and exposure to be broadcasted on shows that our youth can watch regularly because it sets them up to think and act in an unsuitable way.
Young people today also look up to various different professional athletes, celebrities and other people who they may see on television all the time. Some of these people—even while knowing that they are role models for today’s young people—set bad examples for teenagers to follow. Many celebrities today often go to clubs, party, drink, do drugs, or do many other negative activities that young people sit back and watch them do. After young people watch celebrities do these things, some of them may believe it is the “cool” thing to do that everyone else is doing. So they automatically assume these are the kind of things they have to do in order to fit in. Celebrities indirectly have an effect on young peoples’ lives and should think about the examples they set for them.
But then again they are some celebrities who encourage people not to do things like alcohol and drugs as well. This does help some with teaching our young people what the right thing to do is, but there is an overwhelming amount of celebrities who do not encourage them to do the right things by being poor role models. Celebrities should always deep in mind that they have a great influence on young people and should persuade them to be as successful as they are without doing all of the drugs and partying.
Although it would be nice if every celebrity encouraged young people to do good in school and not go out and party, if censorship could go back to the way it was by denying the use of vulgar language on television, and if kids would not watch so much television and play so many video games; but it is very unlikely that all of these things will happen. This is why it is left up to parents, guardians, other role models, and family members to encourage young people to do the right thing. It is very important for our youth to not be lazy, rude or have all the wrong morals and behaviors because they are the future of this county. If young people do not strive to be successful, then America as a whole is doomed for failure. We should persuade and push today’s youth to be healthy, successful, intelligent, and have a positive outlook on life. If we can all encourage our youth to do these things then the possibilities for the United States to become successful will be endless.
Some technological changes in America’s society today that a majority of young people have become addicted to are video games and watching television. Many members of today’s youth spend multiple hours a day playing on the Wii, PS2, or one of several other types of entertainment systems, while they could be doing something much more productive, such as reading a book, studying for school, or simply helping out around the household. I am not trying to say that everyone should never play video games, but it should definitely be kept down to a minimum and to where it does not affect any other priorities the young person may have. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the majority of young people today.
Before video games became popular, young people would go outside and play basketball or football. But now they stay inside and play Madden or NBA video games. This has the unfortunate result of our youth missing out on the proper exercise they need because they spend more time sitting in front of the T.V. instead of running around outside with their friends outside. This can lead to many problems such as obesity and laziness. We should encourage our youth to play sports, play outside with friends, and not spend so much time playing pointless video games that have no educational or physical benefits.
Televised broadcasts today are also having negative effects on our youth. There is not near as much censorship on television today as there was ten years ago. Now, people can say just about anything they want to, including “bitch”! This is a word I thought that would never be allowed to be said on television or on the radio. But now there are several inappropriate words like this one that are used frequently and casually on televised networks that young people listen to everyday.
Along with the excessive use of vulgar language on television, there is a lot of inappropriate sexual content as well. Television shows today will show people with the minimum or even no clothing on and some televise “love scenes” that could be considered to be nearly pornography. The lack of censorship on televisions and radios are not healthy for young people to be watching or hearing. It causes them to say or do inappropriate things without thinking they are doing anything wrong because they see it on a daily basis. Is this what we really want to be teaching our youth? Exposing our youth to this type of vulgar behavior only teaches them to act this way and it should be stopped. We should not be allowing this type of language and exposure to be broadcasted on shows that our youth can watch regularly because it sets them up to think and act in an unsuitable way.
Young people today also look up to various different professional athletes, celebrities and other people who they may see on television all the time. Some of these people—even while knowing that they are role models for today’s young people—set bad examples for teenagers to follow. Many celebrities today often go to clubs, party, drink, do drugs, or do many other negative activities that young people sit back and watch them do. After young people watch celebrities do these things, some of them may believe it is the “cool” thing to do that everyone else is doing. So they automatically assume these are the kind of things they have to do in order to fit in. Celebrities indirectly have an effect on young peoples’ lives and should think about the examples they set for them.
But then again they are some celebrities who encourage people not to do things like alcohol and drugs as well. This does help some with teaching our young people what the right thing to do is, but there is an overwhelming amount of celebrities who do not encourage them to do the right things by being poor role models. Celebrities should always deep in mind that they have a great influence on young people and should persuade them to be as successful as they are without doing all of the drugs and partying.
Although it would be nice if every celebrity encouraged young people to do good in school and not go out and party, if censorship could go back to the way it was by denying the use of vulgar language on television, and if kids would not watch so much television and play so many video games; but it is very unlikely that all of these things will happen. This is why it is left up to parents, guardians, other role models, and family members to encourage young people to do the right thing. It is very important for our youth to not be lazy, rude or have all the wrong morals and behaviors because they are the future of this county. If young people do not strive to be successful, then America as a whole is doomed for failure. We should persuade and push today’s youth to be healthy, successful, intelligent, and have a positive outlook on life. If we can all encourage our youth to do these things then the possibilities for the United States to become successful will be endless.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Medicinal Marijuana, pros and cons
The legalization of medical marijuana has been an ongoing debate in the United States for many years. There are various proven facts that marijuana is both helpful and harmful to the human body. So knowing that there are some risks, do the benefits out way those risks? If so, then should the United States government make the medicinal use of marijuana legal? In order to answer these questions you must take into considerations what exactly marijuana is, what the medical benefits and risks are, and what other benefits legalizing marijuana might bring.
Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant and is often used as a psychoactive drug. Although many people do not consider marijuana to be a drug, it most definitely is. Marijuana is a drug due to its legal status, its psychoactive effects, and because people often use it illegally in order to get “high”. Even though it is considered a drug, marijuana however does not have the typical characteristics of other addictive drugs.
About ten percent of users obtain psychological dependence on marijuana, but there is little evidence that proves it carries risks of addiction. Marijuana’s strength of addiction depends on the intentions of the user; many of who use it illegally tends to stop by the age of twenty to thirty. Marijuana is less addicting than cigarettes because most marijuana users do not have to smoke it on a daily basis.
The withdrawal effects of marijuana however are similar to those of nicotine withdrawal. Although these symptoms are mild and do not last very long. Withdrawals from alcohol and other prescription drugs have much harsher side effects.
Lastly, marijuana is a drug that has some negative effects on those who use it too frequently. It can lead to a loss of ambitions and goals, along with various other types of negative medical side effects. Although when it is used for the right reasons and under the restrictions of doctors, the results can be beneficial. However, the government does not take these benefits into consideration.
In 1972, marijuana was put in the first Schedule of the Controlled Substance Act. This means that the United States government believes marijuana to have “no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States”. But after years of research, some medical professionals believe differently. As of today, thirteen out of fifty states in America have approved the medical use of marijuana for patents who qualify. If thirteen out of fifty states have proven and believe that marijuana has valid medical use, then why does the government still not approve of its medical usage?
Many advocates for pro-medical marijuana argue that it has many benefits for different patients. The typical uses for medicinal marijuana includes treating specific kinds of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS. Some physicians claim that marijuana is safe to use and that it is less toxic than other drugs that physicians prescribe to their patients on a regular basis. Although this argument can be debated, depending on which drugs you may be referring to.
Many people believe that smoking marijuana can cause lung cancer. But there have not been any reported cases of lung cancer or emphysema that were related to the use of marijuana. Although some believe that smoking it does have negative side effects to other things in our bodies. Marijuana has been proven to have several positive effects on patients with the AIDS virus. It is said that patients receiving marijuana pills or smoking marijuana had better immune function compared to patients who were receiving placebo. Although there are several positive medicinal uses for marijuana, there are still several proven facts that marijuana does have negative side effects as well.
Some health professionals believe that smoking three to four cannabis cigarettes a day is equivalent to smoking twenty or more tobacco cigarettes a day because they both will give the user symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis. Although it is proven that marijuana does not cause lung cancer, it can infect your lungs by damaging cells within the lining of the bronchial passage. There are some researchers who believe that smoking marijuana can impair the immune system in some patients; therefore, AIDS patients who may have already immune deficits and think they should not smoke marijuana. Some health professionals say that there are other safer drugs than marijuana that doctors can prescribe. Although, these opinions can be debated depending on the situation and the patient. Marijuana is a mixture of 400 chemicals, which is one reason some doctors prefer other drugs whose dosages are known. However, if the growth of marijuana was regulated for medical purposes, then those plants could be studied and perfected to be prescribed to patients.
Marijuana could have many benefits if it was regulated by our government and if it was given to only those who need it. If smoking the marijuana is what causes most of the negative side effects, then professionals should find another way to give the helpful elements to patients. Many more studies must be done on the medical use of marijuana in order for this to ever be accomplished.
Once the necessary research has taken place and marijuana has been made 99.9% safe, then its growth, manufacturing, and distribution can be regulated by the government. The government could hire federal workers to grow, manufacture, and distribute the marijuana to hospitals. This would give thousands of people well paying, federal jobs. If necessary, the government could also put a high tax on the marijuana that is sold. If marijuana was legalized for medical use, all of these things would take place and as a result, help the struggling economy severely.
The benefits from legalizing medical marijuana tremendously out way the possible risks smoking marijuana may or may not have. It would help the economy by providing jobs and most importantly it would help the sick people whose lives are made easier by taking marijuana. Medical marijuana is sometimes the better choice of drug compared to other prescription drugs because it is natural, cleaner, and less addicting. The use of medical marijuana should seriously be considered to be legalized by our government because the benefits will be endless for those who need treatment and those who need an occupation.
Works Cited:
ProCon.org. Should marijuana be a medical option?" medicalmarijuanaProCon.org. 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 13 Sept. 2009.
Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant and is often used as a psychoactive drug. Although many people do not consider marijuana to be a drug, it most definitely is. Marijuana is a drug due to its legal status, its psychoactive effects, and because people often use it illegally in order to get “high”. Even though it is considered a drug, marijuana however does not have the typical characteristics of other addictive drugs.
About ten percent of users obtain psychological dependence on marijuana, but there is little evidence that proves it carries risks of addiction. Marijuana’s strength of addiction depends on the intentions of the user; many of who use it illegally tends to stop by the age of twenty to thirty. Marijuana is less addicting than cigarettes because most marijuana users do not have to smoke it on a daily basis.
The withdrawal effects of marijuana however are similar to those of nicotine withdrawal. Although these symptoms are mild and do not last very long. Withdrawals from alcohol and other prescription drugs have much harsher side effects.
Lastly, marijuana is a drug that has some negative effects on those who use it too frequently. It can lead to a loss of ambitions and goals, along with various other types of negative medical side effects. Although when it is used for the right reasons and under the restrictions of doctors, the results can be beneficial. However, the government does not take these benefits into consideration.
In 1972, marijuana was put in the first Schedule of the Controlled Substance Act. This means that the United States government believes marijuana to have “no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States”. But after years of research, some medical professionals believe differently. As of today, thirteen out of fifty states in America have approved the medical use of marijuana for patents who qualify. If thirteen out of fifty states have proven and believe that marijuana has valid medical use, then why does the government still not approve of its medical usage?
Many advocates for pro-medical marijuana argue that it has many benefits for different patients. The typical uses for medicinal marijuana includes treating specific kinds of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS. Some physicians claim that marijuana is safe to use and that it is less toxic than other drugs that physicians prescribe to their patients on a regular basis. Although this argument can be debated, depending on which drugs you may be referring to.
Many people believe that smoking marijuana can cause lung cancer. But there have not been any reported cases of lung cancer or emphysema that were related to the use of marijuana. Although some believe that smoking it does have negative side effects to other things in our bodies. Marijuana has been proven to have several positive effects on patients with the AIDS virus. It is said that patients receiving marijuana pills or smoking marijuana had better immune function compared to patients who were receiving placebo. Although there are several positive medicinal uses for marijuana, there are still several proven facts that marijuana does have negative side effects as well.
Some health professionals believe that smoking three to four cannabis cigarettes a day is equivalent to smoking twenty or more tobacco cigarettes a day because they both will give the user symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis. Although it is proven that marijuana does not cause lung cancer, it can infect your lungs by damaging cells within the lining of the bronchial passage. There are some researchers who believe that smoking marijuana can impair the immune system in some patients; therefore, AIDS patients who may have already immune deficits and think they should not smoke marijuana. Some health professionals say that there are other safer drugs than marijuana that doctors can prescribe. Although, these opinions can be debated depending on the situation and the patient. Marijuana is a mixture of 400 chemicals, which is one reason some doctors prefer other drugs whose dosages are known. However, if the growth of marijuana was regulated for medical purposes, then those plants could be studied and perfected to be prescribed to patients.
Marijuana could have many benefits if it was regulated by our government and if it was given to only those who need it. If smoking the marijuana is what causes most of the negative side effects, then professionals should find another way to give the helpful elements to patients. Many more studies must be done on the medical use of marijuana in order for this to ever be accomplished.
Once the necessary research has taken place and marijuana has been made 99.9% safe, then its growth, manufacturing, and distribution can be regulated by the government. The government could hire federal workers to grow, manufacture, and distribute the marijuana to hospitals. This would give thousands of people well paying, federal jobs. If necessary, the government could also put a high tax on the marijuana that is sold. If marijuana was legalized for medical use, all of these things would take place and as a result, help the struggling economy severely.
The benefits from legalizing medical marijuana tremendously out way the possible risks smoking marijuana may or may not have. It would help the economy by providing jobs and most importantly it would help the sick people whose lives are made easier by taking marijuana. Medical marijuana is sometimes the better choice of drug compared to other prescription drugs because it is natural, cleaner, and less addicting. The use of medical marijuana should seriously be considered to be legalized by our government because the benefits will be endless for those who need treatment and those who need an occupation.
Works Cited:
ProCon.org. Should marijuana be a medical option?" medicalmarijuanaProCon.org. 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 13 Sept. 2009.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Free Health Care
Is health care really a right, or is it just a privilege for those who can afford it? As of right now health care is just a privilege for those who can afford insurance, but what about those who can’t? In reality health care is a right that all Americans deserve but our government today refuses to give it to us. It is written clearly in the Declaration of Independence that we have the right to live:
We hold these truths to be self-evident
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This excerpt from the Declaration of Independence states that all Americans, regardless if they are poor or not, has the right to live. It also articulates that not only is Life an unalienable right of ours but that it is our God given right. Furthermore, if we do not receive the right to live it would be impossible for us to achieve our other rights: Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
If our founding fathers believed that Americans have the right to live, then why doesn’t our government today believe the same thing? Our founding fathers believed that the right to live was given to us by our Creator, meaning that the right to life was given to us from a higher power than man. So how can the government, insurance companies, and hospitals have the power to choose who deserves proper health care and who deserves to live or die based on if they can afford the treatment or not? Health care should be made accessible to everyone because it is our God forsaken right, our unalienable right, because it is the right thing to do, and so we may pursue happiness and liberty.
Achieving happiness and Liberty for all would be much easier to do if we had free health care. Families would no longer have to sell their family heirlooms, houses, or other belongings to pay for medical bills. People would be able to live much happier and easier lives if they did not have to sacrifice things like this only because insurance companies and hospitals want to make a profit off of people’s disabilities, sickness, and misfortune. It is extremely morally wrong for people to make money off of other people who are already struggling to pay for all their bills and then on top of all of that have to pay for their family’s expensive medical payments or insurance. Something like this can tear American families’ lives apart, which is not what our founding fathers had in mind when they spoke of pursuing happiness.
Similar to happiness, liberty is impossible to achieve without having life and good health first. If people are not properly taken care of and in good health, then they will not have the capability to carry out their liberties. Furthermore, medical payments can also restrain families from pursuing their liberties. For example, a family could be so tied down with medical bills, that they would have to work several jobs or make their kids work, making it impossible for the family to have the freedom to spend quality time with one another. Families all across America are being held captive to health insurance and medical payments which is a violation of our unalienable right to liberty.
Another reason we should have free health care is because everywhere in America people are losing their jobs and houses in this bad economy. Giving free health care to everyone would take one more burden off of everyone shoulders, making it easier for people to get by in the unstable economy. Proper healthcare is something that everyone deserves weather poor or rich and no one should have the power to deny people what they need in order to live.
Now you might say that giving free health care to everyone would probably hurt the economy because hospitals won’t be making a profit. But we must look at how other countries go about having affordable health care for everyone. Similar to other countries, we could have a tax on health care. Then when you have an emergency and must go to the hospital you do not have to pay for anything regardless of the treatment they have to give you. But this tax has to be made affordable to the lower and middle classes and set higher for the upper class. Then you might ask: What about the people who cannot afford to pay for these taxes? Do they get free health care too? The answer is yes. They deserve the proper health care even if they cannot pay for it because of whatever reason. They are human beings too with families and children and no one should be able to have the power to say if they can live or die just because they do not pay for the health care tax.
One problem people hear about when they talk of other countries and their free health care programs is the long waits in order to be treated. But when was the last time you went into the emergency room with a minor injury and was treated right away? The truth is regardless if health care is free or not, you are probably going to have to sit in the waiting room and wait for your turn. But even if you do have to wait longer, who cares? It is free!
The truth is that free health care can be made possible in America because other countries have made it work as well. So what is our government waiting for? They should make health care accessible to everyone by any means necessary. Because we as Americans have to right to live long, happy, healthy lives with our families and friends and we should not be denied that right only because we can’t afford the treatment to do so. Health care is a right, not a privilege.
We hold these truths to be self-evident
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This excerpt from the Declaration of Independence states that all Americans, regardless if they are poor or not, has the right to live. It also articulates that not only is Life an unalienable right of ours but that it is our God given right. Furthermore, if we do not receive the right to live it would be impossible for us to achieve our other rights: Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
If our founding fathers believed that Americans have the right to live, then why doesn’t our government today believe the same thing? Our founding fathers believed that the right to live was given to us by our Creator, meaning that the right to life was given to us from a higher power than man. So how can the government, insurance companies, and hospitals have the power to choose who deserves proper health care and who deserves to live or die based on if they can afford the treatment or not? Health care should be made accessible to everyone because it is our God forsaken right, our unalienable right, because it is the right thing to do, and so we may pursue happiness and liberty.
Achieving happiness and Liberty for all would be much easier to do if we had free health care. Families would no longer have to sell their family heirlooms, houses, or other belongings to pay for medical bills. People would be able to live much happier and easier lives if they did not have to sacrifice things like this only because insurance companies and hospitals want to make a profit off of people’s disabilities, sickness, and misfortune. It is extremely morally wrong for people to make money off of other people who are already struggling to pay for all their bills and then on top of all of that have to pay for their family’s expensive medical payments or insurance. Something like this can tear American families’ lives apart, which is not what our founding fathers had in mind when they spoke of pursuing happiness.
Similar to happiness, liberty is impossible to achieve without having life and good health first. If people are not properly taken care of and in good health, then they will not have the capability to carry out their liberties. Furthermore, medical payments can also restrain families from pursuing their liberties. For example, a family could be so tied down with medical bills, that they would have to work several jobs or make their kids work, making it impossible for the family to have the freedom to spend quality time with one another. Families all across America are being held captive to health insurance and medical payments which is a violation of our unalienable right to liberty.
Another reason we should have free health care is because everywhere in America people are losing their jobs and houses in this bad economy. Giving free health care to everyone would take one more burden off of everyone shoulders, making it easier for people to get by in the unstable economy. Proper healthcare is something that everyone deserves weather poor or rich and no one should have the power to deny people what they need in order to live.
Now you might say that giving free health care to everyone would probably hurt the economy because hospitals won’t be making a profit. But we must look at how other countries go about having affordable health care for everyone. Similar to other countries, we could have a tax on health care. Then when you have an emergency and must go to the hospital you do not have to pay for anything regardless of the treatment they have to give you. But this tax has to be made affordable to the lower and middle classes and set higher for the upper class. Then you might ask: What about the people who cannot afford to pay for these taxes? Do they get free health care too? The answer is yes. They deserve the proper health care even if they cannot pay for it because of whatever reason. They are human beings too with families and children and no one should be able to have the power to say if they can live or die just because they do not pay for the health care tax.
One problem people hear about when they talk of other countries and their free health care programs is the long waits in order to be treated. But when was the last time you went into the emergency room with a minor injury and was treated right away? The truth is regardless if health care is free or not, you are probably going to have to sit in the waiting room and wait for your turn. But even if you do have to wait longer, who cares? It is free!
The truth is that free health care can be made possible in America because other countries have made it work as well. So what is our government waiting for? They should make health care accessible to everyone by any means necessary. Because we as Americans have to right to live long, happy, healthy lives with our families and friends and we should not be denied that right only because we can’t afford the treatment to do so. Health care is a right, not a privilege.
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