I am not into politics, only justice. This is why I support the health care reform in the U.S.A., even though I will never benefit from it myself. The change will be painful, I am sure of that. Our reunification in Germany was painful, too in respect to financing, cultural adjustments, and adjusting social benefits.

The people most fearful of the change are the ones with insurance. In the six years I had lived in the U.S.A. I had only worked with the underdogs. The only people I knew were uninsured co-workers and I listened to their stories of misery. The ones who had insurance never complained, so they had no voice in the America I experienced.

For those having gone unheard in the past, I publish Obama’s message, received 23 March 2010:

This morning, I gathered with members of Congress, my administration, and hardworking volunteers from every part of the country to sign comprehensive health care reform into law. Thanks to the immeasurable efforts of so many, the dream of reform is now a reality.

The bill I just signed puts Americans in charge of our own health care by enacting three key changes:

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

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But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year — some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents’ plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

…

So as we celebrate this great day, I want to invite you to add your name where it belongs: alongside mine as a co-signer of this historic legislation. Organizing for America will record the names of co-signers as a permanent commemoration of those who came together to make this moment possible — all of you who refused to give up until the dream of many generations for affordable, quality care for all Americans was finally fulfilled.

So, if you haven’t yet, please add your name as a proud health care reform co-signer today:

http://my.barackobama.com/cosigner

History, and I, are in your debt.

President Barack Obama

I had no way of helping all these poor uninsured Americans back then, but I have my chance now by promoting health care for all.