Toothache

by Rap Lewis

For the story of Kyle Willis, we are indebted to Matthew Yglesias, who blogs for The American Prospect.

Like 15 million other Americans, Willis was unemployed. Like many more millions, he had no health insurance. Therefore, when Willis’ wisdom tooth started hurting, he toughed it out for two weeks. When dentists told him it should be pulled, he held off because he had no way of paying for the procedure.

When his face stated swelling and his head began to ache, he went to a hospital emergency room. There he received prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication. He couldn’t afford both, so he chose the pain medication.

The tooth infection spread, causing his brain to swell. On August 30, at the age of 24, Kyle Willis died.

The United States of America can pay for two wars, bail out the biggest banks, and dish out billions in tax “relief” to corporations and millionaires. All that wealth, swollen like an infected tooth -- yet it cannot provide, at modest cost, the most basic health services to Kyle Willis and millions like him.

Our country has a toothache and needs some radical dentistry.