We must increase funding for affordable health care
The United States continues to suffer under the extreme costs of health care, and millions are paying the price. Our country’s health care system is driven not by the interests of the general people but by those who prioritize profit. Even with our nation’s high GDP, our health care system still falls far behind those of other developed countries. And instead of increasing accessibility, recently passed policies have only made things much worse.
The passing of the Big Beautiful Bill Act cut funding to Medicaid and failed to renew the Affordable Care Act. Combined, these programs helped millions obtain health insurance coverage. Cutting funding to these programs has put the finances of many in jeopardy and will only continue to do so. Health insurance premiums will steadily rise because of these cuts, making an already overpriced health care system even more expensive. According to the Congressional Budget Office (cbo.gov), if nothing changes, by 2034, roughly 16 million more people could become uninsured.
However, this crisis may affect some more than others. People with chronic illnesses and disabilities who already have trouble paying for health insurance will face an even bigger challenge. For example, people with poor eyesight already have to put extra money aside to pay for their eye care. These people will have greater financial strain if their money keeps getting stripped away by growing health insurance premiums. People with disabilities and chronic illnesses live in our Boulder community, and if nothing is done, then their health will continue to be disregarded.
No longer can this problem be ignored. In order to restore and increase funding for affordable health care, action must be taken. Many European countries have proven that a better health care system is possible; all we need to do is learn how to prioritize our own health.
Brayden Wohlfarth, Denver
What would happen if social media disappeared?
Going to school in Boulder comes with so many great things. The views, the weather, the atmosphere, etc. One downside to coming here for school at the average college kid age is social media; you simply cannot escape it. Being in a college town, you are constantly led to compare yourself to others. You see other people out partying while you stay in and feel like a loser. This is why I think social media has killed our environment.
You should be able to stay one night in without having to feel guilty about what others are doing, and that is all because of social media. Especially this age group, we grew up with social media and phones and don’t know a life without it. What would happen if social media just disappeared? We as a generation would not know what to do.
It is very rare that you find a college kid without social media, and that is because of the world of comparison we live in. However, we can stop this. If we college students spent the time we spent scrolling through social media on studying, we would see a big difference in our grades and our happiness. If we spent time communicating with people in our class instead of texting them, it would help us make more friends, as a generation, we struggle with face-to-face, genuine connections. If we set the phone down and use our voice, it could improve our lives significantly.
Lila Girard, Boulder
More revisionist geography
Gulf of Venezuela name change. Google, which kowtows to the Trump misadministration, will probably next rename the Gulf of Venezuela the Gulf of America. This will allow the Injustice Dept. to legitimize the summary execution (murder) of alleged drug runners without a trial. Watch Google Maps to see when revisionist geography appears.
Daniel Booth, Longmont
A better health care system is possible; what if social media disappeared?; revisionist geography (Letters)
