It’s become a mantra: Universal Healthcare – and it’s become the cry of the opposition: Socialized Medicine.
But the argument has been going on since, roughly the end of the Civil War (the one in 1865) – brought up over and over between the century before last – the last century and now this one – coming very close to a plan – a solution – a reality. But each time, it’s a step to the precipice and sudden cold feet.
The closest it has come to reality it’s become the object of political scorn and derision – quick to lambaste and reject – criticized by even those who were pressing for it before realizing it was a boiler-plate; a start – a jumping off place – Act one of a long and complicated drama.
The issue of Universal Healthcare or whatever you want to call it is a crucial issue for life in America – yet over and over resolution comes close only to be derailed – held hostage, swept aside or totally ignored.
But lately it’s been the object of fear, retribution and revenge – the violent twist. The events that most react with revulsion, yet secretly remark that it’s been a long time coming. Pushing human acceptance to its limit and then reacting with shock and dismay that sometimes violence is the language of the unheard. Much as we loathe to acknowledge it.
But in 1945 it was still an issue bound by civility – we had gone through a devastating war and the scars and long-term affects of that war were to be felt for decades to come. Since the issue of Healthcare was to be a benchmark piece of legislation during President Roosevelt’s time in office – war stepped in and then the death of FDR brought that chapter to an abrupt close. Revived by Harry Truman as continuation of a legacy, but now mired in political wrangling and a rapidly growing Insurance Industry and the subsequent lobbies to shape and influence legislation, the resistance to any sort of Universal Healthcare was getting bigger, getting more organized, gaining more influence on Capitol Hill and becoming increasingly more difficult to become a reality.
This episode of the Mutual Broadcasting series Northwestern Reviewing Stand brings up the issue of Universal Healthcare and a vigorous debate kicks in.
Bear in mind, this is eighty years ago. Eighty years and the arguments are the same – the resistance is the same – the necessity has only grown only more acute in that time and the solution is still the same – yet people are still dying from lack of affordable care – dying from an Insurance Industry that now controls who lives and who dies – sees nothing wrong with the morality behind this current situation and continues to act with impunity.
In 1945 it was different – and for a glimpse of the argument then, here is that episode of The Northwestern Reviewing Stand from December 9, 1945.
