Health is a defense issue

Affordable health care is and should be a concern of every American, and especially those not adequately covered by insurance. Joe Speranzi’s letter (Oct. 3) stated, “Health care for American citizens is not a conservative or liberal issue, it’s a right.”

Although the Declaration of Independence considers “life” an unalienable right and the Preamble to the Constitution “provide(s) for the common defense” and “promote(s) the general Welfare,” considering the state of medicine and medical care at that period in time, I doubt our forefathers had the “right” for health care in mind. However, in this day and age, health care is often necessary to maintain the unalienable right to “life.” Therefore, we should ask politicians, “Are enemies who drop bombs and carry guns less dangerous than viral enemies or those inherited through our genes?” Isn’t good health necessary to “promote the general welfare”? Should our nation not provide “for common defense” against viral and inherited disease, and against accidents of birth or those caused by society?

Why is protecting our people from military enemies not socialism, when a single-payer option to protect our people from viral and other health enemies is? Could it be $$?

James T. Isabell

Spokane