The healthcare crisis and the false American dream

As the year 2013 drew to a close, it’s a time for reflection and looking back at the major issues and debates of the past twelve months. And undoubtedly, one of the biggest controversies of the year in US politics (and, to an extent, world politics, due to the still massive influence of that country) was the Affordable Care Act – often known by its slightly silly nickname ‘Obamacare’.

The idea of the Affordable Care Act, in a nutshell, was to provide a kind of universal healthcare for Americans by insisting that every citizen purchase health insurance, and forcing insurance companies to provide reasonably-priced packages to make this possible (as well as providing subsidies for the poorest people). In theory, this seems like a good idea – ensuring that the US will no longer see the situation of people being unable to pay for their basic health needs.

According to its detractors, however, the program was plagued with problems. Most notably, the website for choosing new insurance policies had a number of bugs and often simply refused to work. Some people who previously had generous work-provided packages suddenly found themselves having to pay more than they expected. But in general, both of these complaints seem relatively small – minor problems that can be ironed out over time. Why then, was ‘Obamacare’ such a massive point of contention within the US? For the majority of opponents, the problems are not practical but ideological – they simply oppose the very concept of providing healthcare for everyone in the country.

There is an ideological belief in the US (and in many other places) that people’s lives are only the result of their own decisions and actions. This is the basis of the ‘American Dream’, the idea that anyone, no matter where they start in life, can make a success of themselves in America through hard work. This completely ignores the many structured power systems that are at work in any society – obvious problems like racism and sexism, but also the advantages that people from wealthier families have in terms of education, connections, and safety nets. However, despite being wholly unrealistic, this idea of the ‘American Dream’ is what makes many people think that they have no responsibility to help their fellow citizens through contributing to a healthcare system – they think that those without healthcare have caused their own problems through not working hard enough, and never stop to think that the problems may in fact be structural.

This is a mindset that we see on many issues across the US these days, and across the world. There are people who have been fortunate enough to be born into a system that gives them advantages, power, and wealth, and there are people who are unfortunate enough to have found themselves on the opposite side of the equation, without the opportunities and material advantages that many of us have. Ultimately, however, those who have everything and those who have nothing still have the same basic needs – healthcare, for example. A fairer and more just society, in which we help our fellow humans rather than trying to keep them down, will thus benefit us all – and spending a little extra on health insurance won’t really hurt us, but will immediately help other people live more fulfilling lives.

In the year 2014, we need to fight more than ever to make society more just, to make people more understanding, and to make life fairer and easier for all. At NRGLab and the Ana Shell Fund this is what we try to do every day, through developing cheaper alternative forms of energy and other projects, but there’s still much work to be done – and we hope you’ll be around to help us with is in 2014.

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The American dream now a recurring nightmare

For centuries, the world has looked upon America with envy. It was an oasis where the individual was judged not by his or her parents, but by his or her willingness to succeed. Freedom, democracy, and the ‘American dream’ were alive and well. Yet over the last several decades, that dream has become a recurring nightmare. Will Americans ever wake up?

Citizens are bogged down by social stagnation reminiscent of medieval feudalism. The top 1% controls a majority of the country’s wealth and resources. They concentrate power within their families, passing it down from silver spoon to silver spoon. So why do the other 99% continue to oppose tax increases on the top tier?

Because everyone wants to be rich! In fact, most people expect it. The American dream basically culminates with entry into the 1%, and who would want to pay a higher tax rate then?

Nobody.

So although raising taxes on the wealthiest few could create breathing room for the majority fighting to stay afloat, world leaders have turned a blind eye and succumb to the will of their constituents.

Call it forward-thinking. Call it ambition. Call it what you will. But in reality, the American dream has glorified greed on an epic scale. Instead of telling people to explore what makes them happy, what gives them a sense of fulfillment and pride, the government preached free-market capitalism and buy, buy, BUY! Sell, sell, SELL!

Because THINGS will make you happy, people were told. Possessions = stature. Stature = power. Power = more possessions. Americans were sold on this viscous cycle. They ignored the toll on the environment and the rest of the world and took pride in simply being American. The title was enough.

But that shouldn’t be the case. Where you live shouldn’t dictate who you are, nor should your family’s bank account. True democracy is the freedom to have your voice heard. To wake up each morning not having to fear for your life. That’s freedom. Not a shopping or shooting-spree.

How can Americans wake up from this nightmare?

First, they need to realize that happiness is the ultimate goal, and that happiness is relative. One must learn to be happy with what they have – plain and simple. Material possessions fade with time. They break. The human spirit doesn’t have to.

Second, Americans must remember that societies are judged by how they treat the least of their people. And just as everyone sees themselves becoming rich, anyone – with one wrong turn – can end up living on the streets.

Think of citizens like cells in the body. Each one different. Some aggressive. Some passive. Some more prone to cooperate than others. But each cell serves a distinct purpose, and only by working in harmony do they survive.

Lastly, making the wealthy pay more than their fair share sets a shining example for the rest of the population. Yes, success is good – but reaching out to others to elevate them is by far nobler. What good is success if everyone else fails?

NRGLab believes happiness means living relatively stress-free. With the SH-Box, a portable generator that produces low-cost electricity for your home, office, or industrial facility, you can forget about that monthly utility bill. You can forget about your carbon footprint, too. The SH-Box is emission-free, powered by an all-natural polycrystalline core.

To learn more about how you, your friends, and family can achieve energy independence and take the next step towards stress-free living, check us out on YouTube, or visit nrglab.asia.