Educate yourself on health care reform

By Editorial

It's unquestionable that the heated debate over Obama's health care reform plan has dominated the nation's media outlets over the past couple of weeks, leaving many citizens confused, angry, disappointed and unsure of what the future holds. But as large of an issue as this has become in the media and throughout the country, many questions remain unanswered and many Americans remain in the dark of what the plan truly entails.

We ran into this very issue ourselves when we sat down to discuss the new health care reform plan. Our general lack of knowledge on the subject was rather humbling and, quite frankly, frustrating. Admittedly, there were many details about the health care reform that remained unclear to us, and yet fueled our curiosity to becoming more educated citizens.

Here is a brief overview of what we have come to learn about the situation:

The most controversial portion of the proposed health care reform lies within the idea of a public health care option. What public option means is that citizens who cannot afford private funded health care will be insured and covered by the government, leaving Uncle Sam to pay the medical bills. In addition to offering health care to those in need, the public option is also supposed to lower health care costs from private insurance companies by creating more competition in the insurance marketplace.

Those in opposition to the reform are afraid of too much governmental control in health care. By lowering costs of health care, the government could potentially force private insurance companies out of business, leaving the nation's health care problems squarely on the shoulders of the national government. Public option would also guarantee health care coverage for those who cannot afford it, a promise that begs the question of where funding will come from.

But why care? Most of us are still on our parents' health plans, the burden of worrying about and paying for our own medical bills off our shoulders. However, according to rockthevote.com, one third of all 19-29 year old Americans are uninsured and most health care plans disallow coverage of children under their parents' insurance once they reach either 19 or 22 years of age. The time is rapidly approaching when we as current students will have to provide our own health care and take on the responsibilities of adulthood that come ever so rapidly.

It is OK to be confused about complex political issues. In fact, it is normal. But it is time to become educated.

One of the rights that makes America the "Land of the Free" is our right to vote and to know what is happening in our government. We are free to have a voice in our government, but our voice can only be heard when we become educated citizens about topics that really matter. Ignorance is no longer an excuse. Educate yourself on the health care issue, read as much about it as you can, and then formulate your own opinions. It's OK to struggle with the technicalities and unknowns of the health care reform, but it is not OK to remain satisfied with being uninformed.

Above all, do not be afraid to ask questions and strive for knowledge. Not everyone has the answer, but anyone can formulate an opinion through the proper research and with the longing to learn.

It is our right, and quite frankly our duty, to educate ourselves on the nation's biggest issues. Exercise your freedoms and do not settle with ignorance. It is time to create your own beliefs to stand on.