GOP fallacy regarding health insurance subsidies

When someone working a low-paying job says they cannot afford health insurance, every Republican has the same answer, “Go get a better job,” or “Go get training/education for a better job.” This plan does not work because of their inadequate understanding of how an economy operates.

A ditch digger working on a new skyscraper says he cannot afford health insurance. Republicans answer, “Go to college and become an architect.” But here is the problem, we need ditch diggers. No skyscraper, no house, no highway has been built without a ditch digger. Hospitals needs custodians, banks need tellers, grocery stores need stockers, and McDonald’s needs burger flippers. If everyone on the skyscraper work site was an architect, it won’t get built.

The U.S. economy needs people to work low-paying jobs. I understand that they cannot be paid an elite wage, but without health insurance, they might get sick or even die and then not be able to work. I don’t want to sound like a communist, but every worker in America needs to be taken care of.

Michael Cal Cahalan

Cedar Rapids