Celebrating a Milestone & Wondering....
Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo landing on the Moon:
This day is significant in many respects. As this insightful report from Al Jazeera shows, the space quest has been beneficial to us all. I continue to be reminded about that crucial speech John Kennedy made in 1961 when he said that , "...we choose to go to the moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard...". I also am reminded of that famous scene in Apollo when Gene Kranz noted that "failure was not an option" when the crew was stuck in space and the genius of America was yet again shown when those three brave Americans were returned to Earth safe and sound.
As I continue to wonder about such monumental milestones in American life, I wonder why the political leadership in America cannot figure out a way to insure that something is done about healthcare. Healthcare consumes 18% of the U.S. GDP. Many say that they want to preserve choice, want to avoid rationing and Government control and to preseve what is working. Some also say that the number of the uninsured is insignificant and can be managed. The implications of such statements is simply a reaffirmation that healthcare is a privilege and not a right. For a country that has sent a man to the moon, has sent probes to Mars and has been at the forefront of innovation and ideas, the fact that it can't figure out a way to deal with healthcare is confusing to say the least. The only silver lining is that all sides seem to realize that the status quo is the true road to nowhere. The question is if all sides in this debate will have the political courage to step up and do something about it so that the average Mr. and Mrs. Main Street America will not have to worry about losing their entire life if they get sick.
This day is significant in many respects. As this insightful report from Al Jazeera shows, the space quest has been beneficial to us all. I continue to be reminded about that crucial speech John Kennedy made in 1961 when he said that , "...we choose to go to the moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard...". I also am reminded of that famous scene in Apollo when Gene Kranz noted that "failure was not an option" when the crew was stuck in space and the genius of America was yet again shown when those three brave Americans were returned to Earth safe and sound.
As I continue to wonder about such monumental milestones in American life, I wonder why the political leadership in America cannot figure out a way to insure that something is done about healthcare. Healthcare consumes 18% of the U.S. GDP. Many say that they want to preserve choice, want to avoid rationing and Government control and to preseve what is working. Some also say that the number of the uninsured is insignificant and can be managed. The implications of such statements is simply a reaffirmation that healthcare is a privilege and not a right. For a country that has sent a man to the moon, has sent probes to Mars and has been at the forefront of innovation and ideas, the fact that it can't figure out a way to deal with healthcare is confusing to say the least. The only silver lining is that all sides seem to realize that the status quo is the true road to nowhere. The question is if all sides in this debate will have the political courage to step up and do something about it so that the average Mr. and Mrs. Main Street America will not have to worry about losing their entire life if they get sick.
Mike Pouraryan
