Two-hundred and twenty-seven years ago, this government was founded upon the promise to guarantee "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for all. Health, the cornerstone of our founding fathers' vision for this great nation, is our right, not a commodity to be bartered based on partisanship and political capital.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.AP File PhotoAchieving the highest level of health and guarding against systemic discrimination-- which, for the large majority of this young country's history, has produced grievous inequalities in every area of human health, wealth and well-being -- requires our leaders and representatives to take steps to ensure the best outcomes for the greatest number of people. Should the Affordable Care Act be repealed, our lawmakers will have ensured only failure to protect their constituents from the scourges of physical ailments, chronic or otherwise, mental health disorders, and substance abuse disorders.
This will prove costly, as lack of good health and protection from disease will disable residents from participating in society, thereby diminishing economic performance. When tens of millions lack coverage and premiums and spending on illness soar, we will all be left looking for a cure to this preventable disease.
I urge Sen. Pat Toomey to vote against the repeal the Affordable Care Act, whose new-and-improved replacement is yet unheard of, and instead work across party lines to refine what is already in place.
Carla Prieto
Bethlehem
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