Healthcare Reform
Health insurance reform has been a dream for many Americans for almost a century. On Sunday March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives ended a year long debate by passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with a vote of 219-212. Being at the gallery the moments in which the debate was going on and when they proceeded to vote was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I noticed how confident each side of the chamber was during the arguments and the voting because they remained patient and quiet, until the yays reached 215 and the Democrats cheerfully yelled “one more vote.” Feeling the energy that invaded the room, I felt the excitement and wanted to be part of it. Contrary to the joy at the other end of the room, the conservative side stood aghast to the historic moment they were witnessing. The anger in their words turned the floor into what I called a “high school classroom.” The yelling going back and forth was something I never expected, but it represented the discontent of some members of Congress. While I was enjoying the moment, I couldn’t help thinking of the many people who will finally be protected under this new law. Although our country is still divided in approval of the reform, I think that once more detailed information is made public; people will be able to understand what encompasses this legislation. The skepticism about this reform stems from the fear of uncertainty that many people have because they don’t have access to accurate information from the government, and I agree on their concerns because people are not used to having a trustworthy relationship with the government. This is the administration’s opportunity to change that by ensuring that the accurate information is available for all people.
