Dear Editor,

I’m of a persuasion that we can do more in life by being mindful of others and their needs. My highest hope for my community is to help shape it into one where taking up the causes and issues of our neighbors isn’t looked down upon or made into a political argument, but instead is simply being neighborly. To echo the late Senator Wellstone, before we tell folks to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, we should probably make sure they have boots to begin with.

The American healthcare act that was just passed in the house is anything but a healthcare bill. It’s a trillion dollar theft from those in poverty, with pre-existing conditions, or anyone needing help affording healthcare and giving that money to the super rich. 

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; who has any chance for any of that if their healthcare is stripped away, if their health deteriorates and they have no means to fix the situation? Land of opportunity? Not for those that can’t afford it. This is why I am firmly of the mindset that healthcare is a right and not a privilege for just those who can afford it.

It’s one thing to address the issues with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and another thing entirely to play political games with people’s lives and livelihoods like this new bill is doing. The American Healthcare Act now heading for the senate will cost some people everything, including their lives. It is shameful and outright disgusting, the greed that is on full display before us.

This isn’t a healthcare bill, it’s a trillion dollar tax dodge for the super rich. Isn’t it about time that some of these people elected to represent us truly starts fighting for the working folks of this great Commonwealth and quit trying to pad their own pockets and the pockets of their friends at the cost of our lives and livelihoods?

Gregory D. Welch

Vice Chair Jessamine County Democrats