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To get healthcare for his wife 39 yr. old man joins military
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AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Bill Caudle is a 39 year old man from Wisconsin who lost his job in March due to layoffs.
With the job went his health insurance. Caudle's wife, his high school sweetheart Michelle, has ovarian cancer.
To get health insurance for his wife, Caudle joined the Army.
According to the article in Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Caudle was laid off from his job at plastics company PolyOne after working there for 20 years. When they explained the decision to their three children they said Dad was joining the military so Mom could fight cancer. His choice means, of course, that he will not be by her side as she fights.
Today on MSNBC's Ed Schultz Show, Schultz told Caudle's story, and said: "This is the public health care option available to us today; join the military." His guest, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, agreed, saying if the United States had a public health care option this family wouldn't have been put in this position, adding: "This story shows why a public option is so important." Schultz polled his viewing audience, asking if they would join the military just to get health benefits; over 50% responded yes.
This is an American story. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not guarantee comprehensive health care to all its citizens. Those on the right like to say that folks in Canada and England and those other 'socialist' countries don't receive good health care treatment. The statistics actually say they have better health care results, but that's a moot point to this family, who say they aren't political and haven't been following the health care debate. The simple truth is this: if the Caudles were Canadians this man could be beside his wife as she gets her cancer treatments.
Forget the slogans. Forget the politics. Forget the yelling and screaming. This fight for health care reform is about Americans like the Caudles. They deserve the best health care available. We all do.
As the debate on health care reform moves into its most critical stage I think I'm going to call my representatives and remind them of that.
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