San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper
by Dr. John Warren
From its inception, there has been a national effort to equate healthcare for all Americans as some kind of hangout for those who were primarily people of color. This is the same strategy applied to the idea of “Welfare.” It suggested that only Blacks in particular or people of color were the recipients when, in reality, there have always been more Whites on Welfare than any group of people of color.
Fast forward to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was immediately named “Obamacare,” suggesting that since it was passed by a Black President, its primary beneficiaries are Blacks, or African Americans or people of color, if one wants to be inclusive of all ethnicities other than White.
Mainstream media has been a willing participant throughout the entire government shutdown. The Democrats held out seeking healthcare protection for millions of Americans, of all colors. One of the main issues was protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Mainstream media insisted on always referring to the Act as “Obamacare”. This term subconsciously made many of the MAGA supporters feel justified and encouraged in suffering themselves through the government shutdown. This meant that it appeared that the government was pulling back on those people who don’t want to work and cutting off or stalling “Obamacare” while shutting down the government.
Let’s make people call the Act by its proper name: The Affordable Care Act. Maybe then there will be less resistance to the benefit it is providing for all Americans as the greatest social insurance program since Social Security, which benefits millions. We know former President Obama is responsible for this program, which is saving lives and helping millions. Let’s not have his name become a code word for the racism against the program because some who benefit are people of color. In reality, like Welfare, most recipients are White.