I believe one fundamental difference that divides perspectives on health care is the whether you believe it is the community’s obligation to take care of one another. Some believe that with the exception of a few basics the government (community) should not interfere. Basically it is every man or woman for themselves. Others believe that a community must take care of its weakest. This debate has taken an interesting twist in several comments and posts of friends of mine regarding organ donation. Organ donation (especially while alive and for a stranger as in a kidney) is quite possibly the strongest recognition that one can make that the community does in deed have an obligation to take care of its own. Organ donation strips the barriers that most people construct around their bodies. Bodies are personal, private, not communal. But a friend of mine is considering a more communal perspective so that her community can better take care of its own. By giving of ones body to another (in the form of a blood donation, bone marrow, kidney) you are offering yourself (quite physically) to another in the community. What a perspective!
Now if only more in our community would be willing to give up monetary resources so that all could access health care. What a small sacrifice. What a small perspective compared to those who give of themselves quite physically!
