

Houston has the dubious distinction of having some of the world's best hospitals, but also possessing one of the lowest rates of adequate healthcare insurance for adults in the United States. Despite its deplorable record of providing the least adequate healthcare for its residents, Texas is among the top five most religious states in the country. With its high Christian count, it could be expected that the state healthcare record would be just the opposite.

One reason for inadequate healthcare insurance comes directly from the state's governor, and failed Presidential candidate, Rick Perry. Almost 3.5 million Texans will finally get healthcare coverage under the Affordable Healthcare Act, but a million more could have received it if Perry had agreed to the law's expansion of Medicaid.

Interestingly, the majority of states with the highest number of uninsured are in the South and the so-called "Red States." With that in mind, these states also are among the most religious in the country possessing nine of the top ten. Again, caring for the sick would seem a top priority, considering the legacy of Christianity.

On a personal note, I live in Texas and was laid off in 2010, three months after I was diagnosed with cancer. I only mention this to speak of healthcare. My insurance lasted six months after my last day. After that, I had to resort to COBRA insurance with its whopping monthly premiums, which I considered ridiculous for a man without a job through no fault of my own. Fortunately, I could afford the obscene premiums, but what of those not as fortunate as me?

What is the problem? Why are so many uninsured at a time when affordable healthcare is available to nearly everyone? One answer is politics. The denial of adequate healthcare insurance for those least able to afford it, I s criminal, especially when it is based on politics rather than meeting the people's needs.

However, as much as most Americans would hate to admit it, a significant portion comes from racism. From the day of President Obama's election, he has been called a monkey, openly called a liar, his wife and children insulted and more. He has the largest personal security guard of any President in the history of the United States.

Of the globe's "first world" countries, the United States ranks the lowest of any nation in providing healthcare for all of its citizens. That is a shame, deplorable and for many, a human rights violation.

Will the United States ever live up to its stated mission? Or, will it continue with a house divided where one percent out-values the lives of the other 99 percent?

Only time will tell.

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Comment by Donald R Barbera on October 29, 2013 at 4:36pm
You are so correct. Our health system is so great that no one can afford it. Money seems only prescription that means anything. At last doctors, hospitals and other care providers have been seduced by the smell of money. Even science has sold out to develop industry directed solutions, thus corrupting the scientific process and putting consumers at risk. We aren't even among the top ten in mortality. Go figure!
Comment by Michael Penn on October 29, 2013 at 7:34am

COBRA is a joke, and your post says things very well. Many in America claim we have the "greatest health care in the world." What a frigging lie that is. Better said, America has the greatest health care technology in the world. As for where we rank on health care itself, last I checked we were number 37 down a list with the countries all above us in number having greater health care than we do. That certainly isn't very impressive. My belief is that health care should be freely provided for all. If you want a specialist then you pay for it.

As for the politics of health care, the "medicos" came along in the Nixon years and told him how they wanted to make a lot of money. They could do this while "protecting the people." The muck and mire this all turned into is the system we have today. The propaganda of it all has caused differing opinions and our great medical debates.


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