Call Any Vegetable, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise
March 31, 2012 Martha Thomases 13 Comments
(Note: This column is once again being written in a hospital. The wi-fi is better, but still not great, so there won’t be any links. Deal with it.)
This week, Supreme Court Justice Scalia liked the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) to a law requiring Americans to eat broccoli. I am neither a lawyer nor a constitutional scholar (although it seems to me that if you throw out the individual mandate, you also throw out Social Security and Medicare), so I don’t plan to weigh in on the legal arguments here.
But I do like broccoli.
As with so many other issues, when we talk about healthcare in this country, we assume there are only two sides to the story. You can be for something or against it, but you can’t consider other approaches. With healthcare, you can only be sick or be well, young or old. You can be an marathon-running organic locavore or a junk food addicted couch potato.
While those people exist, most of us aren’t like that. Most of us have acquired a variety of habits and preferences that work for us, either because of convenience or taste or ambition. In my case, I like to work out because I can sweat away most of my hostility. I prefer complex carbs, fruits and vegetables. I actually like tofu. Which isn’t to say that i don’t also like fried things, butter, cake, cookies and ice cream.
You may notice my list doesn’t contain a lot of protein. I could go without protein very easily. I have to remind myself that I need it. This makes me almost the polar opposite of my fellow columnist Mike Gold, for example, who would happily eat barbecue for the rest of his life.
He tells me he feels better that way. I believe him. I feel better my way. I think he believes me.
Even if the Affordable Care Act is upheld, Mike and I will still feel better eating differently from each other. We are — and this may shock you — different people with different bodies. We require different kinds of medical care.
One size doesn’t fit all. That’s one reason (but not the only reason) why other people’s political or religious beliefs shouldn’t be a factor in my (nor your) health care decisions.
There is one common denominator, however. We all need access to health care. We all need some way to cover our medical expenses. Even young, healthy unemployed twenty-somethings can get in a car accident, or find themselves stricken with a previously undiagnosed congenital condition. Unless we are willing to have people dying on the streets because they can’t afford treatment, we will all pay for the medical costs of those who can’t afford it. I would prefer to do this through a single-payer system, but I’m okay with the individual mandate.
I’m also okay with broccoli.
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Martha Thomases, Media Goddess, would prefer to know much less about hospitals.
JosephW
March 31, 2012 - 11:59 am
(although it seems to me that if you throw out the individual mandate, you also throw out Social Security and Medicare),
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And you think the GOPers (who’ve *conveniently* forgotten that “Obamacare” was THEIR alternative–back in the 1990s–to the dreaded “Hillarycare”; but I digress….) wouldn’t be okay with doing just that?
I trust you’ve heard of the GOP efforts to privatize Social Security (for like the last decade or so) which would effectively result in two things: First, an end to Social Security since younger workers would feel no obligation to “pay for” the retirees “living it up” on all that “free” money; and Second, the complete and utter poverty for seniors in about three or four decades when all those young people who participate in “voluntary” withholding programs realize that there’s NOTHING for their own retirement (not merely because the younger people don’t actually participate but also from situations such as the collapse in Chile of several “private” retirement programs–from the collapse of the stock market to less-than-reputable investors). If the GOP had its way, you’d be working until the day you die (unless, of course, you’re a GOP politician who can get a lucrative post at some propaganda mill–while forgetting that, once all these right-wing goals are met and these laws become the norm, they’ll quickly join the ranks of the “common workers” since there won’t be any need to keep all the shills who’ve been promoting the lies and distorting the facts).
As to Medicare, the GOP keep their efforts at killing off that program pretty quiet since so many of their supporters rely on the program but they’d love to completely gut it as well (it’s interesting that, given the GOP’s alleged love of the free market, the Medicare program can’t shop around to find, and offer, the cheapest effective drugs).
We’ve heard many of the GOP/teabagger “Class of 2010” who’ve been claiming that Social Security and Medicare (among many OTHER government programs) are “unconstitutional” simply because they’re not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. (Then again, I don’t hear many arguments against the FCC yet there’s nothing in the Constitution that gives the gov’t any authority over radio and television since neither of those concepts actually existed when the Constitution was written.) Should the ACA be struck down by the Supreme Court (the members of whom, interestingly enough, get their health care paid for by the people of the US), I wouldn’t be surprised if it emboldens the long-time right-wing opponents of Social Security and Medicare in making stronger efforts to shut down these programs.
Mike Gold
March 31, 2012 - 12:23 pm
Actually, there’s stuff in the Constitution that would appear to define the FCC as unconstitutional.
And, whereas I support (my interpretation of the awkwardly written) Second Amendment, back in 1788 we didn’t have any of the armament we enjoy today. So… if strict Constitutionalists want us all to go back to blunderbusses and bayonets, what the hell, let’s give it a whirl.
Mike Gold
March 31, 2012 - 12:45 pm
Martha, I do believe you. Well, the “liking tofu” thing is pretty weird, but if you can still quote Zappa,it’s okay by me.
And while I don’t eat as much barbecue as my rep implies, I do plan on eating it for the rest of my life. Dining is an important cultural choice, and I appreciate the fact that you indulge me so frequently.
I’m trying to track down a hamburger made entirely out of pink slime (which sounds more like Mark Waid’s favorite candy bar, doesn’t it?). This is because neither McDonalds nor Wendy’s used it. So, I’m thinking, if the tasty part is the pink slime I can use it as a good vegan alternative to my carnivorous lifestyle.
Pennie
March 31, 2012 - 4:55 pm
You guys are hilarious. I love this place!
Where else can you find your best friend quoting beloved Frank while discussing the varied merits (or lack) of the Supreme Court, tofu, barbeque, health care, broccoli, Social Insecurity, generational gaps, et al in one posting. I amy be completely prejudiced–but, does it get any better? For this girl–not so much.
PS–Make mine Thai or creole.
Pennie
March 31, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Mike, I think there might be a whole new industry opportunity for pink slime: Pink Slime Martinis; Pink Slime Pie; Pink’s new tour–The Slime; and of course, Pink Slime–the political movement.
Steve Atkins
March 31, 2012 - 8:11 pm
Mike Gold – The Pink Slime IS a great alternative to regular protein…it’s made of people…
Martha – If you travel to Chicago, and if it’s still open, there’s a great pizza place in The Loop (South Wabash, I think). Deep dish and baby back ribs action!
Mike may know what I am talking about. I can’t remember the name of the place at the moment. That space in my brain is currently being used to store stupid movie trivia.
Also, Martha, I hope that everything goes well with your hospital situation. I don’t know what the specifics are, but I DO wish you all the best.
Mike Gold
March 31, 2012 - 8:17 pm
Steve, I’ll be at c2e2 in a couple weeks. South Loop is next to McCormick Place, so if you can remember the name I’d be in your debt… Along with whomever I schlep over. In that area, on Wabash, I go to Millers Pub for ribs and anything else that walked the Earth. Great ribs. Phenomenal decor.
Damn. Now I’m hungry again.
Steve Atkins
March 31, 2012 - 8:37 pm
Can’t remember the name. I DO remember that it used to be a speakeasy that Capone loved to go to. (Yeah, I know that REALLY narrows it down…)
This is going to drive me nuts! I’m going to open a second window and do a search. If it’s still in business, it may have a website…Stay tuned….
Got it! The Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, 226 South Wabash. Still in business. If they’re food is half as good as I remember, I think you’ll enjoy yourself. Hope this helps.
Mike Gold
March 31, 2012 - 9:34 pm
Haven’t been to the Exchequer in years. It’s about a block from where we had our offices during the Chicago 7 Conspiracy Trial. Might go there during c2e2, but if not I’ll get there sooner or later!
Steve Atkins
March 31, 2012 - 11:25 pm
See! I KNEW you would know the place I was talking about!
Not that it was hard to look up. I just typed “chicago deep dish pizza baby back ribs wabash the loop.” It was the third thing listed.
Have fun at c2e2, Mike.
…Damn I miss Chicago.
…Damn I miss deep dish pizza AND baby back ribs.
…Damn.
*sobs into tiny container of yogurt*
Vinnie Bartilucci
April 3, 2012 - 11:23 am
The main problem with healthcare in the US, IMHO, is that it’s too expensive. And so insurance becomes all the more important , to hopefully cover those expenses when they eventually become required.
Sadly, little if any of Obama’s actions attacked that core issue, except in the sense that by making everyone get insurance, thus giving the insurance companies MORE money, it is hoped they will cooperate more and actually keep prices under control.
Which is right up there with hoping that banks will lower interest rates if you give them billions of dollars.
Right now, there’s just no impetus to keep prices down. People who have insurance don’t care what something costs, as the insurance will (we presume) pay for it, and the insurance companies don’t seem to care, as they’ll just raise rates so they make the same amount of money.
And I’ll lay odds the real prices that need…well, not controlling, but a good looking at so they’ll sort of just come down under their own power under the TRHEAT of controlling, are the lab and testing fees. Your local doctor surely needs all the money he can get, as he’s at the bottom of the pole. But go to a lab, or god forbid, a hospital, and the list of things they overcharge you for rivals those $5,000 hammers you hear about with the government. One gets the impression that if an insurane company hired someone to just call the hospital and ask “Exactly what is a ‘manually ingested protein infusion therapy’, anyway?”, a lot of money could be saved as the hospital responded “Um, it’s a can of Ensure…” and wipes it off the bill.
Worry about the amount being charged first, get that under control, THEN discuss how to pay for it. It’s how humans do things…I ever wonder why it’s not how businesses and governments do it.
Martha Thomses
April 3, 2012 - 12:29 pm
Vinnie, many insurance policies have a lifetime cap on benefits. This means that if you get something especially nasty, you can run out of coverage I the middle of treatment.
Rick Oliver
April 3, 2012 - 2:28 pm
Vinnie: Insurance companies don’t actually pay out anywhere near the amounts that hospitals and labs ostensibly charge. And we’re not talking modest discounts for the insurance companies; we’re talking anywhere from 50% to 90%. The only people who pay full price are the uninsured. But you’re right that part of the problem is that everyone acts like someone else is paying the bill.