The budget cuts debate has been a major topic of discussion for some time now with both the public and private sector involved. The real effects of these budget cuts are beginning to show with every agency revealing the harsh effects that those cuts are going to bring in the near future. The USAID has estimated the death of 70,000 kids due to H.R.1 with 30,000 of that being as a result of Malaria control programs. “USAID estimates that reductions proposed in the 2011 House Republican budget would prevent 3 million malaria treatments. Because the disease is misdiagnosed about half the time, this means about 1.5 million people in need of treatment would not receive it.” Both sides of the government have engaged on a heated debate of whether these cuts should be applied and the consequences they will bring. Among the effects being projected are the following.
INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL CARE
Medical care is an essential element of a society that should be made accessible to all. This is mainly because the lives of infant, children, youths and elderly depend on it. Medical care is essential service that a government should be responsible for by taking proper measures to ensure that its citizens are in good health at all times. It is the work of the government to ensure sensitive sectors such as the medical sector is accorded the necessary support to ensure it carries out its mandate smoothly.
The argument of budget cut in the medical sector as raised by the United States government is illogical and unacceptable. We all know the goal of every society is to grow and develop through the people. How could that happen if the medical care budget is cut? The answer to the question is not acceptable, accepting the facts would lead to loosing innocent lives. The congress of the United States need to look into the act with sober minds and ensure that medical care is given the normal proportional of the national budget without any decrease in dollars. In fact, the medical care sector deserves more funding for it to be able to efficiently deal with the problems facing it.
The real-world effects of budget cuts are a national concern because it would put the lives many children in danger not only here in the U.S. but the world at large. Poor medical supplies or medical physicians at hospitals and clinics are not for the good of the country. Insufficient medical supplies would be catastrophic to the country as it would lead to more deaths as the supplies would not be enough. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security to all citizens and so they should not dare let this happen.
Cutting the budget would have an impact on physicians’ salaries and applicable bonuses or compensation. A decrease in salaries to medical workers would raise a flag as it would demoralize most of them. The last thing we need as a country is a demoralized medical staff in the public sector. For instance, an employee in the sector that experience a decrease in salary may consider other alternatives that may not be for the best of the country. Most medical staff dissatisfied with the cuts will opt either to move to the private sector or seek greener pastures elsewhere. The results of physicians leaving the country to find jobs abroad would result to lack of physicians to treat children in the United States.
PARENTS AS THE AUDIENCE
Parents across the United States would not support decision leading to insufficient medical care. The most important thing to parents is the lives of their children and they can do whatever it takes to protect the children. Every parent’s dream is to watch his children grow to become better people in the society tomorrow. Parents have dreams about their children that they do not want to see anything that would destroy it. By allowing these cuts we are interfering with parent’s dreams as it means the mortality rate among children will move higher. The children are an important part of the society as they are the face of the world tomorrow. It is our responsibility collectively to safeguard their future by ensuring we eliminate all factors that might interfere with their lives. A budget cut is not for good to the future generation of the United States and the world in general. Parents have to come up strongly against it and persuade the government not to apply such cuts on our medical system.
Ethos:
The United States and World Health Organizations (WHO) are helping to support the lives of children across the planet. However, the budget cuts would lead to reduction of help to other countries that are in need of it. Most countries that depend on the medical support of the United States may not sufficient supplies of medical needs because the dollar amount for the sector will be reduced. Thus, the quality of medical care in the United States and across the world would experience serious setbacks as demonstrated by the author. “Fiscal conservatives tend to justify these reductions as shared sacrifice. But not all sacrifices are shared equally. Some get a pay freeze. Some get a benefit adjustment. Others get a fever and a small coffin. This is not fiscal prudence. It is the prioritization of the most problematic spending cuts — a disproportionate emphasis on the least justifiable reductions. One can be a budget cutter and still take exception to cuts at the expense of the most vulnerable people on earth.”
Logos:
Politics is a fundamental component of government as it ensures both the smooth running and accountability of the same. Politics is designed to develop, plan, and execute decisions for the benefits of society. The political system of a country are given the mandate by the electorate to ensure important decisions involving the government are made at the best interest of the citizens. The political decisions to cut budget on health care programs were not appropriate. The impulses were not fully analyzed from the audience point of view. Under the freedom of speech, each citizen has a right over a decision made by the congress. The congress is supposed to act for the people not against the people. The congress should first seek the opinion of the citizens before making serious decisions that is going to affect all citizens.
Pathos:
The future of our society depends on the younger generations and so it is our duty to protect them. The younger generations have dreams on how to change the world through innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology. Michael Gerson’s point of view on how the budget cut is going to affect the future generation is very serious. He had expressed concern about the effects of the changes to the budget. The society needs to wake up and be aware of the consequences of such action by the government. Such decisions that have serious consequences to the future of our children should be opposed by all means. Mr. Gerson wanted the public audience to be aware of the situation and stand for proper action. The public audience can demonstrate a peaceful rally to notify the congress that the budget cut in medical care is not the best decision in all circumstances. He hopes to convince his audience that action needs to be taken against the government to ensure they do not go ahead with the budget cuts on the medical care.
Audience Reaction
Laws and regulation are made for the benefit of the society and the people in it. The budget cut was a decision from the congress. However, every citizen has a right to demand for what is best for the country. A decrease in medical care to patients is a circumstance that may not be acceptable to the citizens of the United States. Therefore, audience would be raising their voice to ensure that the government understands that the budget cut in medical is not a good decision. However, if the budget cut is necessary, it should be done in manner that it would not bring significant changes. Michael Gerson tries to convince the audience that their voice needs to be heard on this debate.
Work Cited
Michael, Gerson. “The real-world effects of budget cuts” Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-real-world-effects-of-budget-cuts/2011/04/06/AFpEFXxC_story.html. Accessed on February 13th 2014
