"Obamacare, the Good, the Bad, and the Myths"

           Much stir has been created since the president of the United States, Barack Obama presented his Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Surveys have revealed that public opinion is divided in two groups, the supportive and unsupportive (the majority). Those against the Act have raise false concerns: Is the Act constitutional? Is the Affordable Health Act copying the European's Public Health, or is the US turning communist? Most of the uninformed population has been blinded by the immediate answers to these questions; not seeing there are more layers beneath the surface.

            The Obamacare requires that everybody in the US is insured, and those who refuse will pay a fine. Lawyers and Congress are trying to prove that this document is unconstitutional, because nobody should be obligated to pay for something they do not want. However, it is important to say that with the Act, the cost of health insurance plans will decrease and all insurance packages will provide Americans with free preventative care. Also, Americans with an annual income lower than 15k who cannot afford to pay for health care will qualify for Medicaid. Today, 30% of the Americans that make less than 36k a year are uninsured. Young adults will be able to stay under their parents’ health insurance until the age of 26, instead of the age of 18. In the present, 24.5% of all young adults between the ages of 18-25 are uninsured. Why do not they say that only 1% of all Americans (that can afford health care), do not want to pay for it? This issue reminds me of the abolition process before 1865. We all know slavery is a horrible thing, but before 1865 slaves were considered property. It seems unreasonable that somebody would find abolition unconstitutional, but the very few white farmers who owned slaves felt that they were being striped from their right to own property. When the 13th amendment was ratified, hundred thousand of slaves gained their deserved freedom, and nobody cared about the few selfish farmers who where "affected." Therefore, I understand that Affordable Care Act will be unconstitutional for that 1% that does not want health care, but what about all the other people who need it but cannot afford it. Taking all these facts into account, this Act does not seem unconstitutional to me. (here you can see your benefits)

            The Obamacare is not a copy of the European's Public Health, nor will it make the US communist. Obama has stated that he does not want to recreate the European's health program, so let me explain what is the main difference. First, the European societies found their public health care mainly by taxes. European countries have both public and private health care and services. It is not Obama’s intention to raise the taxes to cover for health care; on the contrary he is planning to create a set of tax credits that will help people to pay for insurance. US health care will still be founded by the cost of services provided by hospitals. On the other hand, the US is far from becoming communist. First, the Obamacare is not going to provide medical attention at free cost. Even if it did, what marks the difference between communism and capitalism is how these societies evaluate property, not their health care. Obama is trying to implement a health care system that will fit the needs of the American society and does not intend to copy the European Union, or goes against the economical principles of the country. 

            It seems to me that the American public needs to be more informed before they pick sides in this matter, otherwise many could lose the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. I support the Obamacare Act and hope that Congress focuses on the benefits that all (insured and not) will receive.