Losing a Loved One
It’s hard enough to lose a loved one. Imagine how much harder it is when the death was preventable: If only the person had affordable healthcare, and didn’t postpone treatments or decline medication because they lacked funds.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone willing to bluntly tell a dying patient, “Sorry, we’re gonna have to let you go. Protecting the profits of insurance companies is more important than your life.”
And yet that is the moral choice we make when we don’t do what’s right and demand our elected representatives follow our lead. The ability to guarantee healthcare to every Californian is right in front of us. It’s called Senate Bill 562, The Healthy California Act.
Seventy percent of Californians support a public, Medicare-for-All system, providing universal single-payer health coverage, with better care—at lower costs—for all. SB 562 has the approval of 350 community and labor organizations, and has passed the California Senate. Yet it is delayed in the Assembly by Speaker Anthony Rendon.
To support SB 562 is to agree that no one should die because they can’t afford healthcare. We’ve gotten close. The Affordable Care Act expanded coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. Unfortunately, it gave insurance companies the keys to the car, and they’re driving Californians off the cliff, leaving three million of us still without insurance. Even among the lucky insured, 36 percent—12 million—are underinsured, paying premiums but unable to afford out-of-pocket costs.
Not all the uninsured are created equal. Women, take note: The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in 2015 that one in four American women under retirement age receives insurance exclusively through her spouse’s employer-sponsored plan. This means one-quarter of our population can lose healthcare if their spouse dies, they divorce, their spouse loses a job or their spouse’s employer removes family coverage. These women are left in a risk pool of one, sticking them with the highest possible insurance rates.
It’s time to lead the nation, as California so consistently does. Time to do what we do best: Take systems that work elsewhere in the world and make them more efficient, innovative, comprehensive.
SB 562 does just that. It saves more than $37 billion, reducing healthcare costs by 18 percent—the equivalent of a 9 percent raise for all California workers, according to economists at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. SB 562 saves money. SB 562 saves lives.
If implemented there could be growing pains, yes, but they would be far less debilitating and deplorable than the current pain of preventable death by lack of care. The time is now to #FreeTheBill. It’s our moral duty to demand our leaders loudly proclaim healthcare an inalienable human right by passing SB 562.
Erika Feresten | President, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club
A Student’s Perspective
My name is Casey Ehrlich and I am an 11th grader at Palisades Charter High School. Recently, I have watched in genuine shock as some of our societal values have degraded.
Our country’s ideals, previously a non-issue in my life, have suddenly deteriorated.
Public matters, ranging from environmental to social, have had their progress stagnated, if not reversed. This degradation is evident, most recently, in the debate on stricter gun laws.
I personally believe that there needs to be further regulations and restrictions on gun ownership. As shown in March 14’s walkout, many of my classmates share the same beliefs. This issue has become so prevalent that I have actually had conversations with friends about what we would do if we discovered there was an active shooter on campus.
After realizing that I am not alone in thinking about this, I realized that we have a serious problem. No student should ever feel that they are unsafe on a school campus. A school should be treated like a sanctuary. A school is a place of refuge where students should, without fear, be able to congregate, share ideas and learn. It is unfortunate and angering that a country that prides itself on its morals and values has not imposed stricter gun laws.
Last week, students across the country marched in a show of solidarity with the #NeverAgain Movement.
At Pali High, students marched up Bowdoin Street, while waving signs that expressed their frustration. Once students returned to campus, they were greeted by encouraging words from guest speakers and an array of desks that honored the Parkland victims.
It was uplifting to see the majority of Pali’s student body participating in the walkout and many preregistering to vote at the same time. I was excited and encouraged by students’ chants for change and manner of seriousness in which they handled the walkout.
I also felt a genuine sense of appreciation and empowerment from the faculty’s decision to allow students to organize the event.
While the majority of students nationwide supported the walkout, national policy makers have failed to listen. Their actions disregard those who voted them into power and ignore key constituencies.
Students sense this lack of progress and will continue to work for sane gun control laws by participating in the upcoming March for Our Lives and the second national school walkout. Students across the nation have no intention of letting the movement dissipate. We are passionate and empowered and will continue to fight until true change occurs.
Thanks for hearing me out.
Casey Ehrlich
A Second View
A week ago, I was motivated to be a part of something impactful. I was motivated to stand with a generation taking action for that in which we believe. I was motivated to participate in a national movement, with the rest of my peers, marching for change. This was the National School Walkout for the recent Florida shooting.
As a student at Palisades Charter High School, the senseless violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hit close to home and made me think even more deeply about the gun violence issues threatening the U.S. today.
To think that something that tragic could happen, and has happened time and time again, in high schools like my own, should be evidence enough that there needs to be change. As the movement for gun reform intensified in days and weeks following the tragedy, it was fitting that those leading the motion were the ones most affected by the event: teens.
It’s strange to me that in the years following Sandy Hook, years that have included other mass shootings, politicians have failed to launch as big of a movement as teenagers have in a matter of days. Across the nation, as the desire for gun reform grew, Pali High joined those in answering the call.
On March 14, along with thousands of other schools nationwide, I and the rest of my Pali High peers participated in a student council organized and faculty supported walk.
We were all coming together; as a school, as a community and as teens in the nation. Not only was the unity extremely refreshing in a divided nation, but there are few things that feel as amazing as advocating for a cause about which one feels strongly.
We felt united marching down Bowdoin and were inspired listening to speeches on campus from students and city officials alike.
After the crowd in the quad had dispersed and the speakers had left the stage, I left to my next class with oddly an optimistic sense about the future. I sensed that this time will be different. This time, I hope change will come. Don’t underestimate the power of teenagers and the impact we can have when we put our minds to something.
To all my fellow high schoolers out there, please remember: Our fresh voices are the hope for change.
Ava Kerkorian
A Warning with Teeth
It has come to my attention that there are businesses here in Pacific Palisades that may be taking advantage of our community. We all are aware that, because we live in this zip code, many items are more expensive. Our gas costs more than if we fill up in another part of the city. Our homes sell for more, our food may cost more, and our dental and other medical services may cost more.
Recently I had the experience of being charged a lot of money for medical services. Businesses may charge high fees, and it is up to the individual to check and be aware of those charges.
That is why I’m writing this letter; to make our community aware.
If you don’t know ahead of time what you will be charged, and you are asked to pay at the time of service, you might be unable to complain due to being in shock. Don’t always think that talking about money isn’t cool. It’s very cool. In fact, people who have money have usually had a lifetime of being careful with their funds.
Please be your own best ombudsman. You might also like to get a second opinion if you think you only need a simple procedure, but by the time you leave, you’ve agreed to a much more complicated and expensive procedure.
Think about the tire salesman who tells you that you really need all four tires replaced, instead of the one you wanted to replace. That’s because your car has to be “balanced.” If the bell goes off in your head, listen!
Everything is more expensive these days. Ask questions, be aware that there are choices, get a second opinion and don’t think you always have to pay great sums in order to live in the Palisades.
Sue Temple
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