Young Americans & Healthcare: Do we really care?

Spread it!

Share

Email This

To say that I was fired up and ready to go after hearing the President’s speech on healthcare reform last week would be an understatement. Initially I choose to de-twitter myself for the speech so that I could fully focus on what was being said. However, I found the palm of my right hand itching so much that I had no choice but to bow down to the social networking site and log in to see what everyone was saying. The response to the those that I follow ranged from outrage at the blatant disrespect of Congressman Joe Wilson- (S.C.) for heckling “liar” to the President to glee at the Obama for calling out his opponents (which he did ever so eloquently) for not participating in the acts of bi-partisanship.  What is key to note is that all of the comments, rants, and raves were coming from young Americans, primarily under the age of 30.

So imagine my surprise when I log onto CNN.com and I read a commentary from a young American, who happens to be African American, on the lack of young voices over the airways-television and radio alike on the healthcare debate. Erica Williams, deputy director of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress offered a great analysis on what was missing from the healthcare debate—young people. The same young people who helped to elect Barack Obama are now noticeably absent where our presence is needed most! For instance, when you turn on the television to see the healthcare town hall meetings, and tea parties what do you see? Mostly older, white Americans, yelling and screaming at their congressional representatives. But as Williams noted in her op-ed,

“Young Americans have the most at stake and the longest to live with the result, and they are often the primary voice of a moral imperative (the idea that health care reform is not only economically necessary but the just and fair thing to do). Without their voices, the health care reform debate will continue to be stalled and hemmed in by older Americans who are in a better economic position than young people and who are afraid to change the status quo, despite all signs that it is rapidly failing.”

Let’s face it, Young Americans rule social networking sites. We are the ones that keep the pockets of Mark Zuckerburg and Jack Dorsey lined with crisp $100 bills but is that enough? Before the web 2.0 days and even pre-Netscape days, the grassroots efforts consisted of town hall meetings, picket lines, marches, and letter writing campaigns to our elected officials—even the White House. So why must that change now? The primary reason that the minority (that being older, white Americans) are winning this debate is that they are the ones whose faces are splashed across the television screen during the nightly news coverage. Where is the diversity? Where are all of the African Americans, Hispanics, college students, and even those of another sexual orientation? We are the ones who will be affected the MOST by this healthcare reform.

A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey showed that 60 percent of Americans aged 18 to 34 support Obama’s reform plan, however there is no visible representation of us to back that claim. As a recent college graduate, I know that my coverage under my parents’ insurance is rapidly coming to an end. But what about my counterparts who are already living uninsured? What about the young women, especially African American who are having to make a difficult choice between paying for birth control and the electricity bill because of the high costs? It was our open-minded appeal, quest for a drama free government and determination for change that got President Obama elected. If we want to keep up with that momentum, we must fight back. How you say?

1. Plan a town hall meeting whether it is one on your local college campus or at a coffee shop
2. Host a drinks and dialogue event at a local bar where you discuss the pros and cons of the healthcare plan.
3. Start a letter writing campaign with your friends to your elected officials so that your voice is heard.
4. Find a digital camcorder, (heck most phones have video capabilities) and go around town getting other young people’s perspectives on the healthcare reform. Then post the video to your Facebook profile, or on Youtube. If you want to be brassy, send it to a local television news station.

The point is, whatever you do, DO SOMETHING! Let your voices be heard once again! We cannot evoke change if we do not mobilize behind it.

Tagged as: Erica Williams, healthcare, President Obama, young people

Article by Jenifer Moore

Jenifer serves as Editorial Director for The FreshXpress. A native of the Queen City, writing is her muse and she thrives on the Public Relations scene. While she is a lover of all music, she lives by the Biggie mantra "Sky is the Limit".

Jenifer has written 53 article(s) for us.