Under our democracy, “we the people” come first. Republicans are by principle more nationalist than democratic; which means, ideology comes before the will of the people. They claim their ideology is good for America and therefore if applied will fix our nation’s problems; however, the American majority disagrees.  The Republicans are fighting for their ideological principles, while ignoring the will of the America people. Republican ideology is increasingly perceived as immoral to the American people, which will eventually destroy the party. Maintaining ideology over morality will fail.

What are considered entitlements for Republicans, are considered human rights for many Democrats and all Progressives. Here lies the great divide between the two parties, which may be perceived as a moral divide. Basic morality and human rights is the real subject for debate when it comes to differences in parties.

I asked someone I have known for almost six years, who happens to be a Republican making about 160.00 dollars per hour as a professional what she/he thought about the unsustainable cost of health insurance for most of American citizens. The response was that everyone should be economically responsible for his or her own health insurance and related costs of healthcare. I asked, what if you worked in a restaurant, or was a truck driver; would you expect these people to be able to afford the healthcare you have? The answer was, they should pay for their own healthcare coverage, the same way I do; nothing is for free. How can they possibly do that? I asked. She/he said if I had to work hard and pay for my healthcare, than everyone else should do the same. It didn’t seem relevant to this person that wealthy parents paid for her/his education, or that she/he still had claims to family money, etc. The fact that this person had been given opportunities and had family money as financial security was not put into consideration.

Many Republicans are rich capitalists; who cannot accept socialized healthcare and higher education based on belief that they are entitlements. Entitlements are considered unfair to many wealthy people. They are able to pay for their children’s higher education and their family’s healthcare, so everyone else should pay as well. This attitude is clear among many Republicans I have talked too. In other words, if it isn’t free to them, then it shouldn’t be free for others. Hence, we see Republicans against entitlements.

America is at the edge of great social change, which the Republicans want to stop. Social healthcare will emerge because the people demand it. Higher education will become a social right and be free for all citizens. All of this will strengthen our families, and therefore our entire nation. The United States of America will finally have the security of free healthcare and higher education that European nations implemented at the end of WWII.

Without the economic burden of healthcare and higher education, citizens will have a new sense of security to thrive and grow economically. If you knew you had single payer health care from birth to death, and your children would be able to attend college, wouldn’t it be easier to save, invest and grow within our individual economic circumstances?

Government in the United States must grow in size and scope to provide security for all its citizens. National social security for all citizens’ means socialized healthcare and higher education.

Republican ideology believes in a small government, which is not good for the nations future in this rapidly changing society. States are not able to solve the new social issues that face them and it is not wise to allow this. As an extreme hypothetical example, states with a system of providing healthcare to all its citizens, similar to Massachusetts, may be overrun with people relocating from states that cannot provide coverage for their sick love ones.

This concept that the States will be given more power to govern accordingly with their individual needs is ridiculous. Republicans are leaving the States with limited economic support and oversight. Vouchers and health savings plans were presented in the past and do not work. How can anyone possibility save money for their own healthcare. No one knows how much money they will need for healthcare and if they will need it. If average middle-class people could afford to save money for healthcare, they wouldn’t be in the middle-class, but very rich indeed.

In light of all this, Republicans think we all should pay for healthcare regardless of our economic situation. Why do Republicans believe this?

I believe it is complete selfishness not to contribute to the society that has made you wealthy; it is called giving back to your community and country. Europeans get this value. The rich help subsidize the poor in society, so society as a whole becomes economically healthy and secure. Capitalism is great for business, but not for basic social security. Capitalism and a social program for health and education do exist well together, as proven in European nations. Germany is a great example of a strong capitalist economic nation that provides socialized healthcare and higher education.

Republicans simply will not accept that socialized healthcare and higher education is in the best interests for our country; remaining suborn in maintaining their outdated ideology will work in our fast changing world.

By Anya Morga

Published Cape Cod Times on 06-30-17 OPED

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