The Natural Enemy

I don't think I realized the alarming rate at which AIDS is prevalent not only in Africa, but in North America and the rest of the world. What was more shocking to me was that AIDS was first identified in the United States in 1981 (490). In less 25 years the disease has affected a staggering 1.2 million living people in North America, so that doesn’t even count those who fell to the incurable disease. It seems the most important step would be stopping the spread, but the task comes with privacy complexities and a need for full cooperation, which seems unlikely.

 The numbers of those affected by these terrible and historic pandemics is worrisome. With contact and travel easier and cheaper than ever before, these diseases crossing lines becomes more and more possible and fearful. The idea of a disease whipping out millions and millions at a time sounds like something out of a end of the world action film starring Keanu Reeves.

 The cost of health care is significant and rising. However, it must rise due to the extensive costs of research and training and treatment. For health care costs to decrease, the cost of medical school would need to decrease along with the costs of equipment and testing. However, would reducing those costs reduce the quality of health care? We can only hope to that medical researchers will find cures to these diseases in order to end the suffering of so many innocent humans.

However, what happens if we find a cure-all. It is important to note that birth rates are much higher than death rates these days. Over population then becomes an issue. With the current water shortage, what happens when more and more people are living longer and longer. These resources are precious and these diseases could be the world's natural way of natural selection.

 It seems logical that health care is a human right. No one should have to suffer because they were not given the opportunities to afford such care. However, is it our responsibility as tax payers to aid those in need when we can barely afford our own coverage and not receive the benefits of these government medical aid programs? It seems unreasonable that my mom is still paying off my hospital bills from last year and yet having part of her hard earned pay check going to those not working at all. However, it seems to be the only way to fund these programs and provide the health care that people need.

I'm left with only one question: what happens if we do cure all these diseases?