Of course, the British model of universal healthcare, treating all who come, isn't going to suit everybody.
Some areas of the world don't accept the idea that we should all be entitled to universal healthcare, paid for by taxing all those who earn, but of benefit to all, no matter their status.
We believe that access to healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", is all very well if you can afford it, but if you can't pay the fees, well, you'll struggle to meet those ideals. You'll be unhappy, and die significantly younger than your more affluent countrymen.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
RAM's expeditions this year: A=Airborne,
D=Dental, M=Medical, Vet=Veterinary, Vis=Vision, W=Women's
Health
feb 4-5 Knox County, Knoxville, TN - Jacob Building D, Vis, M, W
March 3-4 Rockbridge Co., Buena Vista, VA - Southern Virginia University D, Vis, M
March 10-11 Rhea Co., Evensville, TN - Rhea County High School D, Vis
March 22-25* Oakland, CA - Oakland Coliseum, East Concourse D, Vis, M
March 30-April 2* Sacramento, CA - Cal Expo, Buildings C & D D, Vis, M
April 13-15 Sullivan County, Bristol, TN - Bristol Motor Speedway D, Vis, M, W
May 19-20 Franklin County, Sewanee, TN - University of the South D, Vis, M, W
June 2-3 Claiborne County, Harrogate, TN - Lincoln Memorial University D, Vis, M, W, Vet
June 9-10** Pikeville, KY D, Vis, M
July 7-9 Rosebud, South Dakota D, Vis, M
July 12-15 Pine Ridge, South Dakota - For info & to volunteer: e-mail RAM D. Vis, M, July 20-22 Wise County, VA, at the Wise County Fairground D, Vis, M, W
July 23-27 Operation Lonestar - Brownsville, TX
For info & to volunteer: e-mail RAM D, Vis, M, W
August 4-5 Jefferson County, Dandridge, TN D, Vis, M, W
August 25-26*** Oklahoma City, OK D, Vis, M
Sept 8-9** Pulaski County, Somerset, KY - Southwestern High School D, Vis, M
Sept. 16-30 Guyana, South America - For info & to volunteer: e-mail RAM D, Vis, M
September 22-23 Hamilton County, East Ridge, TN - Camp Jordan D, Vis, M, W
October 6-7 Buchanan County, Grundy, VA D, Vis, M
October 13-21 Siguatepeque, Honduras - For info & to volunteer: e-mail RAM D, Vis, M
Nov 3-4 Pickett County, Byrdstown, TN - Pickett County K-8 D, Vis, M, W
Nov 10 Knoxville Veterans Stand Down D, Vis
Incredible!
ReplyDeleteOur friend Jerry might need them one day.....
ReplyDeleteI've waited awhile to comment on this, in order to digest it. I'm not sure I've fully digested what you are trying to say (there seemed to be some sarcastic undertones at the beginning) but I think I would look at these people as missionaries of a sort. There is need in this world wherever you go, and not just in Africa of Bangladesh, but often in our own back yards. As an American, it grieves me to realize there are people still not being cared for or not availing themselves of the services their fellow Americans are paying for for them. Sometimes people don't know what is available or where it is or don't want to be embarrassed going to get it. Even though you see advertising for pubic welfare programs all the time. A person who doesn't go to the dentist for 10 years has to be because he won't go if he can't pay. Pride. Fear of pain. Whatever. And so when someone shows up in their village and puts up a tent and a "Free Dental Care" or free glasses or free exams or whatever, then the people who care enough to come out to the sick proactively are needed, just as surely as a team of missionary doctors in Bangladesh. Anyway, I am glad for these people.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this.
ReplyDelete