Another mention about our hero’s who run into danger, it includes healthcare workers. I know I said they should have been wearing masks, but even when you know to wear protective gear sometimes it’s too cumbersome, or there isn’t enough time to don it and these people risk themselves to help others. They risk contagions, chemicals, and clear and present physical danger in that moment, not only long term. Some of the people who helped during 9/11 won’t see effects for another 20 years possibly. We might not even realize that their cancer was caused by exposure while helping at 9/11 and other sights during their career.
We have to provide healthcare for everyone, and I mean everyone. It’s not just government workers like fireman, there are people working all sorts of jobs who get harmed, and there are people who live near plants who get slowly poisoned. We have left it up to law suits, but lawsuits take time, perseverance, and sick people are at a disadvantage with both of those things. People shouldn’t feel like it’s not their problem, because you or someone you live could be next. God forbid. The more I think about it the more I think probably corporations should be helping to pay for healthcare through taxation, I’m not sure about that either.
By the way, I mentioned families received money. That’s families of people who worked in the towers received money from our federal government. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I gave money to my boss, his brother was killed on 9/11, he actually had an appointment in the tower that day, he didn’t usually work there. I gave the money for his nephews, but when I found out they were getting money from our government I might have not been so fast to give as much as I did. I’m sure his brother had life insurance. Plus, he received a lot of money from the fed. No amount of money makes up for the family’s loss. I might have preferred to give some of that money to a different fund related to 9/11 I don’t know. He was young, married, two young children, his parents were still alive, it was horrible.
Jon Stewart’s persistence in this fight is to be admired and encouraged. The fight needs a voice that is respected and has national recognition. I hope he can stick with it.