The Health Care Debate

So I have to admit that I have only been following the recent health care debates in a very superficial manner. I am in no way an expert on this topic, nor am I even extremely well-versed on what is in the text of the proposed White House plan. (Is there an actual text at this point?)

But I have noticed that one issue that seems to be dividing almost everyone is that people like Joe Wilson believe that illegal immigrants will be offered health care insurance. Obama says that illegal immigrants will NOT receive the insurance.

I feel like it's kind of a ridiculous debate. I can think of two scenarios right off the bat based on my line of work where it would be to everyone's great benefit if illegal immigrants received full or partial health care coverage.

Scenario 1: Illegal 21 year old man can't pay out of pocket for a flu shot and obviously does not have health care insurance to pay for it. He contracts the H1N1 virus. He passes it on a multitude of U.S. citizens. One of those persons dies from the flu.

Scenario 2: A woman illegally enters the country from Mexico. A couple of years later, she gives birth to a daughter who by virtue of being born here is automatically a citizen. Father is nowhere to be found. The mother develops a form of cancer that would be entirely treatable, but she can't afford it because she doesn't have insurance. She dies as a result. Because no family members live in the country, her daughter enters the foster care system, which ultimately costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands more dollars than it would have to just give the woman some damn health care coverage.

And here's something else to think about. Unless you are 100% Native American, the likelihood is that somewhere in your family tree is someone who came here illegally.

This is probably moot, since I doubt illegal immigrants will get health care coverage anyway. But a healthy society leads to a more productive society, which in turn stimulates the economy. WHY IS THIS SUCH A BIG DEAL???? We pay WAY more for these ridiculous overseas wars, and boy, haven't those been productive?! We need to put America first, and that means putting the health of it's citizens and residents first.