OPINION:
What would you do if you suddenly found yourself unemployed, facing financial hardship with near unbearable stress placed upon your family? This is the position that so many Americans find themselves in today. What if you learned that you could get your job back by improving your skill set with additional training, working extra hours or taking on more responsibility at work? Many unemployed Americans would jump at the opportunity to get their jobs back by taking these steps. So if you would take these steps to get back the job you had, then why not take these steps now to keep the job you still have?
Similarly, how would you handle receiving the terrible news that you had a debilitating illness with the prognosis of a declining quality of life? We don’t know how we would react until faced with this situation, but many people face this every day. What if there were a silver lining: You could get your good health back with 30 minutes of vigorous exercise every day and eating a healthy diet? It is safe to say that most everyone would agree to take these steps. So if you would take these steps to get back the good health you had, then why not take these steps now to help keep the good health you still have?
Finally, what if four years from now we find ourselves with diminished opportunity for employment, a much poorer quality health care system, and less individual liberty to do anything about it?
Job loss or illness cannot always be avoided. But turning our backs on future generations when it comes to passing on a free-market economy, solid employment opportunities, the best health care system in the world and a country still founded on individual liberty certainly can be avoided. What steps are we taking to do so?
STEVE GABBARD
Crescent Springs, Ky.
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