Capitalism doesn’t dictate cultural values

In Chase Cooper’s Oct. 3 opinion piece “Misery insurance,” he explains why the Congressional revision of the State Children’s Heath Insurance Program (SCHIP) is unnecessary. Simply put, Cooper argues that the growing number of uninsured in America is an unavoidable consequence of our capitalist economy and that the cost of providing health care to uninsured children is not worth an increase in taxes, a loss of freedoms or possible economic hindrance. The idea that capitalism must lead to the vast disparity of wealth and resources we see in the U.S. today is absurd.\nTake Japan for example. Japan has a capitalist economy, and at the same time it has universal health care, and it’s cheap! In 1990, Japan spent the equivalent of $1,116 per capita on health insurance, while the U.S. spent $2,752 per capita. In 2004, America still spent 2.5 times the median expenditure of other countries. So if cost is an issue, let’s ask the Japanese how they did it. \nI’m guessing they would say they started by making quality health care for all a priority instead of making a lame excuse. Of course, it will take more than a revision of SCHIP to fix America’s health care system, but if we label the problem as something that is just the result of capitalism, we are not only wrong, we are neglecting innocent children. \nAlso, meeting the basic needs of children could reduce stress within families. Maybe a single mom doesn’t have to work a second job to pay for her kid’s insurance, allowing her to be a more present and involved parent. Leaving her job gives her time to go back to school and get a better job, and at the same time provides employment for someone else. \nNot only would expansion of SCHIP improve children’s physical health, but it could improve the health of families and the health of the economy.\nBut shouldn’t the ethical obligation of providing children with proper health care be reason enough?\nLeah Dudderar\nIU Junior