Responses WK2

Class Response 1

Making or implementing policies should ultimately be in the best interest of the society or community the legislators serve. Political parties always have a reason behind pursuing or refusing a political agenda or policy. Therefore, it is pertinent who will elect to power. The goal of every political party is to achieve the mandate for which they were elected, even though it might not be in the best interest of the larger population or the disadvantaged in society. However, the primary goal of a healthcare person or nurse participating or getting involved in politics is to improve patients' health care in all spheres in the long run (Milstead & Short, 2019).

 The reason behind repealing/replacing the affordable care act differs from one political party to another. Pagel et al. (2017) noted that "The Republicans prioritize reducing costs and smaller government over all other goals, whereas Democrats prioritize improving health and equity and reducing cost" (para.7). Legislators' policy would always be in favor of the political party they belong to. The Republicans were pushing for repealing the affordable care act without having a proper replacement. There were many attempts to repeal the ACA during the Obama-led administration, but they were unsuccessful. However, the Republicans came up with policies that deterred the full implementation of the ACA instead (Patashnik & Oberlander, 2018). The cost of repealing or replacing the ACA was detrimental to people's health. This meant access to health care was minimized, people with comorbidities or pre-existing conditions were disadvantaged, and health care was less affordable in the long run.

It is crucial to establish that the people we elect to power should be individuals or governments who will pursue the welfare of the citizens other than for selfish reasons. Voters should be able to determine whom to vote for based on manifestos, not based on sentiments. In deciding whether a legislator needs to be re-elected, the questions that need to be asked is that are the policy makers aware of the pressing needs of the people, knowledgeable of the subject matters in question, people-driven or self-driven, and have a past track record of deliverables (Milstead & Short, 2019).

 

References

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019).  Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Pagel, C., Bates, D. W., Goldmann, D., & Koller, C. F. (2017). A way forward for bipartisan health reform? Democrat and Republican state legislator priorities for the goals of health policy.  American Journal of Public Health,  107(10), 1601–1603. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2017.304023

Patashnik, E. M., & Oberlander, J. (2018). After defeat: Conservative postenactment opposition to the ACA in historical-institutional perspective.  Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law,  43(4), 651–682. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-6527971