Written by Robert T Calvert
On Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Barack Obama’shealthcare bill, legislation that will overhaul the current healthcare system.
The vote passed 219-212, with all 178 republicans voting against the bill, as well as 34 democrats who opposed the bill. A day after the vote, opinions about whether the government did the right thing made their way across campus.
“If the vote was that close, America obviously isn’t unified about this,”junior Natalie Nill, a member of the College Republicans, said.”There was a lot of protesting and this was a hotly debated proposal, but the democrats just pushed on through without listening to the citizens’ opinions.”
Nill also said voting for the bill would cost officials their seats in Congress, but not everyone at Harding shares that opinion.
“It’s too early to impact the elections. Americans forget easily, so it will not do much if nothing else happens before then,” Dr. Steven Williams of the College of Business said. “The anger will hurt Congress for many years.”
Senior Sarah Everett, a member of the College Democrats, said it is typical for a majority party to lose seats at midterm elections, and this year won’t be any different.
“I’m glad the bill passed. I don’t think it’s perfect, but no legislation ever is. I also don’t think it would be the end of the world if it were bad,” Everett said. “I know too many people who cannot get insurance either because of pre-existing conditions or a lack of funds. It is not OK for anyone in this ‘great nation’ to die because they can’t afford health care. It goes along with your basic right to life.”
Everett said the bill will not affect the general public as much as they are scared to believe. Junior LaRell Reynolds shared a similar view of the situation.
Reynolds said that the bill no longer supports abortions, so there was no reason, in his mind, to oppose the bill. Reynolds said that it was good to give health care to every citizen.
The cost of the bill is $940 billion over the next 10 years.The 14,000-pagehealth care bill’s central purpose is to offer every American the right to health insurance.
