More and more we are into communications; and less and less into communication.
Studs TerkelRead
People are ready to say, 'Yes, we are ready for single-payer health insurance.' We are the only industrialized country in the world that does not have national health insurance. We are the richest in wealth and the poorest in health of all the industrial nations.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the disparity between wealth and health in the United States and advocates for national health insurance.
In this quote, Studs Terkel points out the paradox of the United States being the wealthiest nation yet facing significant health disadvantages compared to other industrialized countries. He emphasizes the readiness of the public to embrace a single-payer health insurance system, suggesting that national health care is not only a need but a moral imperative for a prosperous society.
Themes
HealthInsuranceWealthInequalityCare
In practice
Example use cases
During a public speech discussing healthcare reform, this quote can underscore the need for change.
More from Studs Terkel
All quotes →When it comes to the news, the corporate view is `objective,' all else is propaganda.
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Think of what's stored in an 80- or a 90-year-old mind. Just marvel at it. You've got to get out this information, this knowledge, because you've got something to pass on. There'll be nobody like you ever again. Make the most of every molecule you've got as long as you've got a second to go.
Studs TerkelRead
Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better. Interweave all these communities and you really have an America that is back on its feet again. I really think we are gonna have to reassess what constitutes a 'hero'.
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We are the most powerful nation in the world, but we're not the only nation in the world. We are not the only people in the world. We are an important people, the wealthiest, the most powerful and, to a great extent, generous. But we are part of the world.
Studs TerkelRead
I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's like a tonic.
Studs TerkelRead
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