James Richard Verone, American Hero

( yahoonews )

I predict,

that within the next week, t-shirts will begin appearing

with this man's picture on it.

James Richard Verone

has offered himself up

as a symbol of what the United States health system has become:

James Verone is not

necessarily a criminal.

He appears to have been,

for most of his 59 years,

a law abiding United States citizen,

but at the age of 59,

he has no insurance

and he's ill.

So he robbed a bank of $1, so he could get put in prison

and receive medical care.

I'd say that's brilliant.

This man's face

signifies

one of the biggest problems in the 

United States of America,

the greatest country in the world,

the land of the free,

and you can believe it,

the home of the brave.

Our health insurance system has produced a

national psychosis that promotes a few

delusions:

we feel that the "better" citizens

have their own health insurance,

we work like dogs to keep

our rapidly decreasing policies,

and all around,

we feel

that we'd better not get sick,

or we're screwed.

All health insurance in America

(except, perhaps

that for the very wealthy)

has a cap -- a limit;

and the elderly,

the chronically ill,

have a "doughnut hole"

of indebtedness

to fear.

Mr. Verone was brave to do what he has done,

and we can either chastise him for

"manipulating the system"

(oh, before you do that, think:

how many people do you know

who are uninsured?

And afraid,

truly afraid

of getting ill?

And:

what would you do if that was your

brother, 

sister,

best friend,

cousin,

mother,

neighbor,

self

who decided to do this "crazy" act?

Crazy like a fox.

)

or we can 

pay attention to his message.

Good luck, James.

I sure hope you feel better soon.