The Orionid meteor shower peaks on October 20 and the buzz surrounding it made me recall a memory. You may be wondering what this has to do with civics and citizenship? Recently I was a guest on the National Geographic Orion, a small ship, where sustainability plays a key role. All of the waste and trash is incinerated and turned into fuel to power the Orion. That is why it is able to take long voyages to the Antarctic. The ship also desalinates ocean water to make potable drinking water for all on board. Stick with me for a moment.. The ongoing Obamacare debate gives pause for thought when it comes to sustainability. Many Americans think that this style of healthcare is sustainable, like the Orion’s never ending supply of power and water. In other words, there will always be enough government money to sustain and maintain present and future generations’ health care needs. In America, “We the People” ARE the government. If we are not having babies (children who will grow up and then pay taxes for the health care of the generation ahead of them), if we are not taking good care of our own health by living a reasonably clean lifestyle, if we depend on the government for our very existence, we cannot maintain the level of expense required to keep such a system viable. I recommend reading patient testimonials of the Canadian and the British health care systems if you have never had the opportunity to interact with citizens involved in national healthcare. The people that I have spoken with from other countries say that they come to us, the U.S., to get good healthcare. If they are coming to us, in some way We the People are paying for them to get the medical assistance they need right now. They simply can’t wait in some national healthcare line or it may be too late. Sustainability- It’s something to think about and research. Oh, and do enjoy the Orionid meteor shower!
Sustainable? or Not?
