America's High Anxiety
Think about what happens when a woman leaves the workforce to have a child.
Think about the possibility of a child who becomes chronically ill.
Think about what happens when one of two parents loses his or her job, and what happens afterward when families break apart.
Think about the fact that raising a child to the age of 18 will cost over $200,000 for a middle-income family-and that doesn't even account for college tuition, now a required ticket for admission into the middle class.
Perhaps that's why for the first time, according to the Census Bureau, households headed by single people outnumber those headed by married ones.
If there is one single source of risk our policymakers must tackle, it is health insurance. We must not muddle on, a band-aid here and a band-aid there. We must find some way to provide universal health insurance, especially to cover all children. This is one of the critical reasons that Americans are nervous and no longer believe that the next generation will be better off.
The deep disquiet in this newly anxious American nation was evident in last month's midterm elections. Whichever party better focuses on healthcare will do a world of good for itself and the country.
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