Northwest Federation of Community Organizations - Equality, Community, and Liberty
07/07/08 | Comment (0)
Statement from Deana Knutsen, Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO)
Everyone living in our country should have the health care they need to thrive. This is an expression of our most basic values. If we believe in equity, in community, and in liberty, we know we can not deny health care to any one of us. Unfortunately, this not been our reality.
The gap between our values and our reality has touched my life in many ways.
I lost my sister, when she was only 38, because she had no health insurance. Over this, I have felt not only grief but also outrage. With my son, I battled the insurance companies, because they did not want to cover the treatments he needed for his disability. They said it was a preexisting condition, as if that should matter. So, I know that whether you’re insured or uninsured may not matter in the end – we can’t count on companies that compete and grow by avoiding paying for health care to provide us the security we should all have.
These experiences and losses have been tremendously difficult, but I haven’t let them stop me from believing that we can have a health care system that reflects our values, and not the desire for money or personal gain. As the Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, I know we can join together to say now is the time to be the country and the people we know we can be.
