by Peter Latona

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 30, 2009

The healthcare debate is once again alive and well in the Land of the Free. (As long as you don't mean free healthcare.) The healthcare industry is amassing their vast resources and placing their paid mercenaries at the gates to their vaults. Woe to anyone who tries to break in.

Health Care Reform: Wake Up America

William Jeffrey had just received some very bad news. He slumped forward in his chair with his elbows resting on his knees, head bowed, feet like lead weights and cold sweat signaling the waves of nausea had begun. He fought the fog rolling into his brain, pulled himself erect and with his entire strength rose to his feet. Thank you very much Dr. Levinson, he said as he shook his hand, there is a lot to think about, let me get back to you.

William left the room and made his way to his car as if treading through thick mud. He was prepared for this news and had already done the calculations. He could either accept his imminent death or fight for his 10% chance of survival. He knew he could not fight. You see, William's insurance will not cover most of the costs for this very expensive treatment. His treatment will force his family into bankruptcy. There would be little hope of keeping their home and maintaining their moderate life style. Their sacrifices would be huge. Now, he had to go home and tell his wife Patty, sons Matthew and Jason and his daughter Lauren, that their father has less than a year to live.

The above story is a variation on a theme that we see played out every day in our country. If the patient had been Jason or Lauren, then bankruptcy would have been the only option. Half of all bankruptcies in our country are caused by medial bills and three quarters of those filings are people with insurance. [1]

Yes, there are many of these stories; so many that we become not so much indifferent, as desensitized. We pray that the Dark Knight does not visit our door, but we don't help chase him down when he slays one of our neighbors. Outrage only comes when it happens to one of our family or close friends. We join the other victims to express our outrage and the need for change, but no matter how loud we scream, we do not get heard.

In a world where we are bombarded by negative news and negative images on a daily basis, it is no wonder that we become desensitized to the pain of others. There is so much suffering we have little choice, but it does have consequences. Too often we are complacent. Too often we sit on the sidelines when we

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