Affordable Care Act:

How to Make the Real Fix

I originally penned this short introspection at a rather contentious point in the government debate over the state of health care in America. While I never planned to share it publicly, I have since decided to do so only because it is fairly well written, and I wanted to practice with content that was more interesting to read than “lorem ipsum.” Whether you appreciate the substance or the framework behind it, enjoy.

The problem with the Affordable Care Act isn’t simply the provision (or lack) of insurance itself, but rather, lies in the practices and habits of Americans that force us to rely on health care in the first place.

A major aspect of the affordable care act should focus not just on providing health coverage for all, but also on providing guidance and reform on proper habits and lifestyles for all. While living in Japan for five years, I came to know very well a system which provided an affordable public option, based upon your income over the Japanese fiscal year, and recalculated on a year-to-year basis. While it was certainly reassuring to see that even in the poor rural area where I lived, regular folks (like the senior citizens operating their main-street retail shops more out of boredom nostalgia than for income, or the young day-laborers making under 1000 dollars a month) could afford to head to the doctor on a regular basis and have their issues looked at without losing an arm and a leg, what struck me more was the way in which societal norms promoted general health and fitness from a very young age.

Numerous studies have shown that promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors from a young age tends to lead to healthier and happier adults. If it promoted the adoption of healthy attitudes and practices as a matter of course and not a choice, the Affordable Care Act would stand as a stronger tool for reshaping health as opposed to simply health care in America.

-Namakemono

The Lazy Man’s Manifesto