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I understand that perhaps to some the public option could symbolize the abandonment of some fundamental principles behind the American system; I also realize that the U.S is very religious, and the abortion question may make some question their religious beliefs. What I don’t understand is why some other basic rights are not even considered—in particular workers rights. For instance, Paid leave (Healthy Families Act, HR 2460) would make it possible for working people to take time off to care for a new baby, their own serious health needs or their family without jeopardizing their economic security. The public option or abortion may be controversial issues, however wanting to take care of your health, or your relatives, or worry about losing your job because you have to miss work because of this; those issues do not seem controversial at all. In fact, it seems like common sense. The economy wouldn’t suffer by these changes for workers rights either. First, if person A is a 40-years-old mother of 4 children, she might need 7 days top a year to deal with health issues; at the same time, a young single person B might only need 2 days a year to combat a nasty flu. So, in terms of days taken-off for the total working population, it would all be regulated over time. Second, the paid-leave would be restricted by the law and a person wouldn’t be able to take time off for the heck of it. Third, the productivity of workers back at work after a full recovery is better than the productivity of a sick worker still in the workplace. Considering that the U.S is one of the most powerful economies on the planet—and that the paid leave bill wouldn’t change this—and that France has one of the most effective health care system in the world, perhaps the idea of taking the best of the two systems might be interesting for the sake of the population; starting by giving workers the right to be sick or to take care of their sick relatives. Comments
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In the health care debate, Republicans and Democrats have been arguing over issues like the public option and abortion for over a year. As a French citizen, I was shocked that these issues are provoking such heated debate inside the American society, given that public health care has been part of the French system and culture for centuries and reproductive health care rights since the 1980’s.