Paper 1, Domestic Issue

"This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us," President Obama told reporters in the White House rose garden. "Even when it's hard, especially when it's hard, this is our moment to deliver,” stated CNNPolitics online news.

We have probably all been informed about the controversial plans on the new idea of a health care reform bill specifically designed by President Barack Obama. Current worldwide news headlines are overflowing with headings such as: “Historic win for Obama as health bill passed,” and “House passes health care reform bill,” as the bill gained a democratically favorable 60-39 vote in Christmas Eve, December 24, 2009.

With Republicans boycotting, the Democratic Party quickly acted on President Obama’s plan of refurbishing a new and improved medical system that provides upscale health care for many. For roughly a year, members of the house and senate have been constructively working to craft legislation designed to benefit the American families and American businesses. Even though this bill is designed to assist America in getting back on our feet with providing a chic medical system, how is this bill really going to affect us when it already is distinctively being marked by huge gaps in coverage, large costs, and uneven quality?

The bill produced by the house claims to provide stability and security for Americans that have insurance, affordable options for those who do not, and ultimately lower costs for American families and businesses. From the beginning, President Obama insisted that this is a fully paid bill and will reduce the long-term federal shortfall. He also reassuringly stated that this reform is something that the American people need. Though the American people may insist for change, do we know exactly how we will be able to support this bill once it has taken place? Obama was recently quoted, “Well, here's what I think -- that people like myself, who can afford to pay a little bit more in taxes, should do so in order to help people who are desperate for a little bit of security when it comes to their health care” (PBS News Hour). Sure! It is we, the American people, which will pay for this through higher taxes. This is where a social conflict theory, meaning where individuals and social classes within society have conflicting amounts of material and non-material resources, is created.

The bill leaves questions unanswered as this reform is not completely defined. Is the health care reform bill something that is going to actually help the American people? Is this just another idea that will be supported by American tax dollars, but actually cost us more money than the new plan is worth? Is it fair to tax Americans who have a larger income rather than Americans with lower paying jobs? Is it fair to reconstruct the entire health care system so everyone has a fair opportunity in seeking health benefits?

“Now is the time to finish the job.” Obama states during his Presidential speech the day after the reform bill passed. Currently in the works is a government-run health care experiment that plans to increase families’ health care costs, increase the deficit, increase taxes on small businesses and the middle class and cut Medicare. Do you believe this redesigned health care plan really is what America needs?


Credited sources:


"CNN Politics." CNN News. 08,Nov. 2009. CNN, Web. 23 Dec 2009. .

"PBS." PBS News Hour. 20, Jul, 2009. PBS, Web. 23 Dec 2009. .