LETTER: ‘Crushing’ health care costs don’t matter to GOP, Trump

To Ozaukee Press:

As we approach election season, it feels like the dividing lines are drawn. Socialist vs capitalist, white collar vs blue collar, liberal vs conservative, fascist vs communist. My concern is how this political divide is impacting access to health care.

As a nurse practitioner with 20 years experience in an urban ER and now suburban primary care, I have seen the crushing costs of health care result in financial strain for everyone from college students to small-business owners. 

I now own a private practice and understand the cost of delivering care at a whole new level. I have learned it is possible to offer many entryways to health care. Whether it is affordable self-pay, direct primary care memberships, public payers or even commercial payers, we can find ways to make health care affordable and accessible. Capitalism can create new ideas and progress.

What we cannot do is limit others from obtaining care. We cannot mark individuals who need help as communists or lazy. Do some people need to take responsibility for their choices and show up to work more? Yes. Do some people have mental health disease, chronic health conditions, disabilities and episodic personal trauma that does not allow them to do this? Yes.

Some people can fully fund their health care. And some people would go bankrupt with one ER visit. We all benefit from shared resources. Police, EMS and over half the country’s health care (Medicare and Medicaid) are government funded. If you are someone who has no concern about the cost of health care, I would challenge you to reflect upon why. Consider why you have this benefit and challenge yourself to learn from people and understand their challenges before you vote to limit their options.

From where I sit, people struggling to access health care are not those in abject poverty. They are the self employed, small- business owners, farmers, craftsmen and trades workers—the same demographic that makes up the Republican base at the moment. By voting for Republicans it won’t be long before you realize they have cut you off from what you need.

DOGE, the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress have made it abundantly clear that they have no regard for anyone who may ever need help. They will only, ever, value what can make a profit. Health care will never make a profit, but it is essential.

It is my hope that we take a breath and consider the consequences of constantly choosing to reward those who already have what they need and turn a blind eye to those who don’t. It is my opinion that voting for Brad Smith, Dana Glasstein, and David Crowley will help turn back the tide of these poorly considered decisions.

Laura McKinnis

Grafton