Healthcare: Is it a Right or a Privilege?

Game on! Smaller Indiana Healthcare Debate: Friday night at Indy Fringe
Admission is free - but reservations are required - and seating is ...

Will you join us for an evening of civil debate?

Where healthcare is concerned, some people think that the time for philosophy is past. They say we shouldn't waste our time discussing theories, but instead should be haggling over the specific provisions of the legislation going through Congress. I'm not saying they're wrong.

Indeed, we citizens need to pay close attention to the legislative process and we need to arm ourselves with information and exercise our rights to be heard by our representatives in Washington.

In my opinion, however, the time to discuss "philosophy" is not past. I feel like we citizens can always benefit from a little healthy conversation and introspection; the type of introspection that comes when our belief systems are called into question by people we know and respect.

Reserve your seats

In fact, even as healthcare legislation is being written and debated in Congress, I think we owe it to ourselves to step back for a couple of hours and spend time listening to each other. I personally would like to spend some time considering bigger questions and trying to understand people who see things differently than I do so that I can make better informed decisions about the way I vote on every issue, including healthcare.

It is in this spirit that we are organizing Smaller Indiana's first debate.

The debate will take place this Friday night, August 14 at 7:30pm at the Indy Fringe's newly renovated and air conditioned Downtown facility.

Our topic: Is Healthcare a Right, or a Privilege?

Here's a sneak peek at the debating teams...Reserve your seats

Arguing for Healthcare is a Privilege
Mr. Randy Suttles, former CEO of Medical Savings Insurance
Dr. Ben Park, CEO, American Health Network
Michael Hicks, PhD., Economist, Ball State

Arguing for Healthcare is a Right
Eric Meslin, Director of Indiana University Center for Bioethics
Eric Wright, - Associate Dean of the Indiana University School of Public & Environmental Affairs
Others - TBD

Smaller Indiana Debate Guidelines and audience involvement
The debate teams will be asked to follow formal debate procedures. Each team will make introductory remarks, followed by rebuttal from the other team. The each team offer its main argument, and answer questions from the opposing team as well as the audience. Finally each team will put forth its closing arguments.

After the formal debate, each team will also have an opportunity to offer application points or calls to action vis a vis pending healthcare legislation. During this period, we may also offer an "open mic" for attendees to offer their opinions. Still working out the details...but looking for ways to get the audience involved.

Reserve your seats