While relaxing Sunday evening, contemplating how the Senate would vote on the upcoming health care legislation, I was overwhelmed by a multitude of self-imposed questions.

“Can we, the people of America, realistically expect a senator who has never been without adequate health insurance to be sympathetic to the medical needs of those of who lack coverage?”

“Can our designees be so far removed from the realities in the lives of average people that they have totally lost compassion for their fellow man?”

“Does party loyalty have preference over the promises that were made to your constituents?”

”Should the needs of many be sacrificed to further enrich the treasures of the elite?”

“Can the American public be assured that possibly the most important piece of legislation since the civil rights era will be given the thorough consideration that is due?”

These and other tough questions ought to be asked of the people we have delegated to be the overseers of our well-being and the monitors of our medical system. Ensuring health care coverage for all Americans is a matter that has been ignored for too long and demands immediate attention from our statesmen in Washington .

Some of our representatives in Washington appear to be indifferent to the needs of those who lack sufficient health coverage. Asking them to evaluate the state of health care in America is equivalent to asking the fox whether the fence that protects the chickens is too low. They have been content on taking a lackadaisical approach — a wait-and-see attitude — for the insurance industry to self-medicate the deficiencies that are prevalent in our current health care system. You cannot expect a for-profit institution to be the rectifier of its own imperfections.

Furthermore, “Can the gentleman from the South truly understand the plight of the pregnant, unwed mother that lives in one of the urban ghettos of the North?”

“Will the senator from the North have compassion for the uneducated, elderly farm worker in the South who lacks insurance?”

“What will happen to the kind-hearted grandmother in need of heart surgery who has a history of cardiac problems?”

“Does anyone really care?”

Our lawmakers have to mentally and empathetically exchange positions with the citizens they represent in these situations and take an analytical and realistic look at the dilemmas that face the less fortunate. A walk in another person’s shoes sometimes reveals sobering realities.

Commitment to one’s party has been a part of the political landscape since its inception and probably will continue to exist eternally. However, too many of our representatives have opted to be mere followers, content to rubber stamp the wishes of an elite few. Great men tend to act independently of others, preferring to do what is right for the majority vs. what is popular with the minority.

America can ill afford to put the well-being of citizens solely in the hands of the health care industry and depend on them to do what is right? Historically they have exhibited an inability to be considerate of the needs of those who are medically impaired or lack sufficient health coverage. We, the constituents, cannot be guaranteed that health interests will do what is necessary to provide inexpensive coverage for all. A government option will ensure that affordable universal health care will be obtainable for everyone.

Our senators will soon vote on landmark legislation targeted at ensuring that all the people are entitled to the care and attention that is due to residents of this great nation. Approval of this bill will show that we do indeed have compassion and benevolence for those that are truly in need.

“Are we asking too much of our representatives?”

The answer is an unequivocal “no.” The burden of revamping health care has been put on the shoulders of the people we elected to act on our behalf and we expect them to fervently pursue the timely resolution of this lingering matter. As our representatives, they are obligated to work toward achieving a solution that is both realistic and attainable. We, the American voters, expect the measure to be debated with the prudence of sages because it affects the future well-being of millions of deserving citizens. We implore that the senators to have the decency to independently assess the health care needs of America and finally eradicate the anguish of your constituents from being inadequately insured in America.

— Harold Thomas, Orangeburg

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