Protesters rally in opposition to federal health care plan

By Audrey Spalding
Show-Me Institute

It really wasn’t just about health care. Though the approximately 50 protesters gathered outside of Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office Friday had signs proclaiming “Gov’t health care is making us sick,” individuals there seemed most concerned with the increasing size of government.

The protest was organized by the Missouri chapter of Americans for Prosperity, an organization that advocates reducing the amount of government spending — an idea echoed by many of the protesters in attendance.

“Government spending is out of control,” said Carol Bloomberg, a homemaker and former civil engineer who receives health insurance from her husband’s employer. She said she has been feeling this sense of dissatisfaction for more than 10 years, but today was the first time she had protested publicly.

Kate Martin, a retired office worker who currently relies on Medicare payments, which she supplements with private health insurance, had a similar view.

“I think the government legislation is going to kill this country financially,” she said “We’re so removed from our medical bill; no one asks what something costs.”

Neither Miller nor Bloomberg said they were against all forms of publicly provided care. When considering the poor and elderly, both said they supported some form of government health assistance.

“I’m not against Medicaid and Medicare,” Bloomberg said. “I totally support Medicaid and Medicare, and Social Security if done properly.”

After about 45 minutes of protest, people began to leave, and organizers were soon complaining about lunchtime traffic delays on Twitter.

As one woman left the rally, wearing a “Don’t tread on me” shirt, she stopped to talk to Scott Miller, who had stepped out of the Taylor-Made barbershop for a cigarette. As she explained her opposition to the public health care option now under consideration by Congress, he disagreed. “If there’s a need, then it’s going to come to be,” he said.

Miller, who works as a machinist at John J. Steuby Co., said he thinks the government could get health care right. His own health care is pricey — Miller said he pays a little more than $1,000 each month for his family’s health insurance. “My son’s 19, and he doesn’t even use it,” he said.

“There should be a minimum level of health care,” he said. “And if you want more, you should be able to buy extra.”

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 4:31 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.