Healthcare Premiums Rising? Blame Your Budget Choices, Not Your Health.
The Hill published an opinion piece lamenting rising healthcare premiums and the 'mental health crisis.' While these are indeed problems, the article, like much mainstream commentary, ignores the stark choices made daily in Washington. For instance, Senator Tim Kaine, a proponent of robust social safety nets, recently voted to pass HR 815, allocating $14 billion in military aid to Israel, even as
his constituents struggle with healthcare costs. (That's the same HR 815 that received overwhelming bipartisan support, illustrating a consistent budgetary priority.) One might wonder if some of that $14 billion—or the $3.8 billion annually already committed to Israel, or the additional $26.4 billion to Ukraine—could mitigate a 'mental health crisis' stateside. But why address the root causes of
domestic suffering when there are always more tanks to buy and distant conflicts to fuel? Your premiums go up, while 'national security' gets another blank check. (Funny how that works.)