In Islam, health is the most important thing in life; more important than money, education and voting. “Of course,” one would say. Staying alive is always the most important thing. In Islam, wishing someone good health is used in many daily expressions like “may God keep you healthy” (instead of “goodbye”), or “how is your health?” (instead of “how are you?”), or “to your health!” when someone took a shower (and is all clean) or when they cheer for a drink (yes, Muslims everywhere drink alcohol).
While Europe was in the Dark Ages, Muslims invented hospitals, pharmacies, surgeries, surgical tools, anesthesia, blood transfusions, dentistry and eye glasses, most of which are still used today. They built their hospitals in the cleanest areas of their cities, and did surgeries and treated contagious and mentally ill patients on different floors. Here’s my favorite: they didn’t charge the sick anything and they gave poor patients extra money after releasing them from the hospitals, so they can stay strong and recover fast when they’re most vulnerable.
Makes sense! We can still see traces of their influence in Europe today: The Muslims believed when it comes to health care (and education), we progress better when we progress together. The Europeans now call it taxed single-payer universal health care.
“Taxed” means health care is a human right, a moral obligation and the responsibility of everyone. “Single-payer” means profits cannot be an incentive when dealing with human lives, otherwise you end up with a private health insurance industry that spends $1.4 million a day to stop any health care reform that would save 44,800 American lives AND 1 million bankruptcies (due to medical bills) every year.
If you consider yourself a patriot, would you let 44,800 Americans (including 2,300 veterans) die every year, if you can save them? Would you strip Americans from their health insurance when they lose their jobs and as a result, their homes, and become most vulnerable to sickness? The Europeans chose patriotism and united for a better future. For them, helping the sick is what every religion teaches us to do.
As a result, their citizens are healthier and live longer than Americans, yet they spend less than half as much as Americans. Sounds like a rip off? Of course it is, by giant private insurance companies in the business of corrupting our greedy government representatives to get as rich as possible now, and they’re succeeding. Some Americans say if universal health care is so great, how come some Canadians come to America for treatment? Well, the top reason for Canadians to visit American hospitals is for breast and hair implants. I guess Americans are better than Canadians in that domain.
If the dollar ever wants to be able to compete with the Euro in the 21st century, Americans better reform health care, the biggest contributor to their national deficit. In fact, the only way Americans can compete with Europeans and offer health insurance to all Americans (94 percent or 99 percent is not “universal”), is by using Medicare for all. It’s also the most efficient system to reduce the deficit growth.
Let’s spread to all Americans the health security and happiness that Americans over-65 enjoy. Is this socialism? You bet it is, like FEMA, the police force, firefighters, the mail service and K-12 education. That’s why you don’t pay to get your mail and you don’t get asked for an insurance card when you call 911 or while your house is burning. Everything else can remain capitalistic.
In America, women can lose their health insurance for getting pregnant or raped. Health insurance companies call them “pre-existing conditions.” It’s worth billions for them. This is why you want non-profit health insurance. In Canada and every European country with universal health care, the person most responsible for implementing universal health care is considered the most important person in their national history. Will America ever have a hero that will implement Medicare for all?
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