Healthcare Is About Freedom
Last week, Indivisible and others across the country achieved a major victory when we defeated TrumpCare
Here in Tacoma, our part in that has been recording healthcare stories from local residents to share with our members of Congress.
There are so many reasons this is important, but one is an understanding of healthcare that comes from George Lakoff. It’s this: healthcare is a freedom issue.
For example, if you get cancer and don’t have healthcare, you’re not free. You could die. If you have to choose between paying your health insurance premiums and your mortgage, you’re not free. If your health insurance plan consists of worrying, praying, and hoping you and your kids don’t get sick, you’re not free.
Having healthcare means having the freedom to live the life you want to live and pursue your dreams.
We’re fighting for healthcare for each of us as individuals, but also for each other. As George Lakoff says, “Without care, there is no democracy.” Democracy isn’t just about elections. It’s about citizens caring for other citizens and working through government for that care.
We fight for healthcare because we care about each other, and because that caring is essential to our democracy. This isn’t just a fight about my healthcare or your healthcare, although those are important.
It’s a fight for each other and for our democracy.
