Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805.
David Magallanes
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor
Once upon a time, in a magical country light-years away in another galaxy, there once was a president who had risked everything in order to bring health insurance to the masses. There was enormous controversy as the plan was unveiled (in fact, the roll-out was disastrous), but the program eventually began to settle down. After overcoming their natural skepticism and resentment, the people were generally content once they realized that whereas they may have been unable to acquire any health insurance in the past, they were now able to have some form of protection from the vagaries of illnesses and accidents. Their young adult children at home were afforded some coverage, and now the poor would no longer have to rely entirely on visits to hospital emergency rooms, which was costly for the taxpayers.
But then in a sudden, surprising development, the opposition party gained control of the magical country. However, despite the obvious defects in the health insurance program, they were cognizant of the substantial improvement in health coverage throughout their country. They did not disparage nor insult the former president by proclaiming that they were going to repeal, dismantle and replace the program for which he had painstakingly risked his legacy. The members of the opposing party did not simply proceed to tweak it and declare it to be their handiwork. No—rather, they publicly thanked the former president. They promised to improve it by enhancing and adjusting it to conform more to their vision for the country, but they were grateful for the foundation upon which they could now build.
And they lived happily ever after.
— David Magallanes is a writer, speaker and professor of mathematics.
***
En un Mundo Político Idílico
Por David Magallanes / Columnista invitado
Había una vez, en un país mágico a años luz de distancia en otra galaxia, un presidente que había arriesgado todo para traer el seguro de salud a las masas. Hubo una enorme controversia a medida que se dio a conocer el plan (de hecho, el despliegue fue desastroso), pero el programa finalmente comenzó a establecerse. Después de superar su escepticismo natural y el resentimiento, la gente estaba generalmente contenta una vez que se dieran cuenta de que aun si no podían adquirir ningún seguro sobre salud en el pasado, ahora podían tener alguna forma de protección contra los caprichos de las enfermedades y accidentes. Sus hijos jóvenes adultos en casa recibían cierta cobertura, y ahora los pobres ya no tendrían que depender exclusivamente de las visitas a las salas de emergencia del hospital, las cuales fueron costosas para los contribuyentes de impuestos.
Pero entonces, repentina y sorprendentemente, el partido de oposición ganó el control del país mágico. Sin embargo, a pesar de los defectos evidentes en el programa de seguro de salud, estaban conscientes de la mejora sustancial en la cobertura de salud en todo el país. No desacreditaron ni insultaron al ex presidente. No proclamaron que iban a derogar, desmantelar y reemplazar el programa por el que él había arriesgado exhaustivamente su legado. Los miembros del partido opositor no simplemente procedieron a ajustar el programa y luego declarar que era obra de ellos. No—más bien, agradecieron públicamente al presidente anterior. Prometieron mejorar y ajustar al programa para que conformara más con su visión para el país, pero estaban agradecidos por los cimientos sobre los cuales ahora podrían construir.
Y todos vivieron felices para siempre.
— David Magallanes es un escritor, orador y profesor de matemáticas.