Re: Pam Brown Letter to the Editor, Oct. 30, 2013
I was surprised to find Dr. Pam Brown’s “Letter to the Editor” in the October 30, 2013 Roundup in which she bemoaned the lack of an Obamacare debate at the Day of Politics. Everyone who attended our Q&A regarding Obamacare knew that our guest speaker was invited to answer the students’ questions about the new law. Many of my students have no health care and have been asking me questions about how to sign up, how much is the fine if you don’t, etc. So I invited a volunteer with a non-profit to give a Powerpoint presentation and answer student questions about what the different plans are and what they cover.
While a debate on Obamacare would have been interesting five years ago (preferably before the law was passed by Congress and signed by the President) it would have made little sense to do that now. Student feedback has been very positive and I’m glad we were able to provide some information to everyone so that they can make an informed decision before January 1, 2014. Dr. Brown’s mentioning Obamacare and slavery in the same breath would be silly if it wasn’t so insulting to those who suffered under it. Whatever one likes or dislikes about Obamacare, regulating health care and requiring people to obtain coverage is not even remotely akin to the horrific institution of slavery.
Denise Munro Robb, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Pierce College
UC Irvine Social Science Research, Jr. Fellow