Write an essay about The affordable care act and beyond
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Affordable Care Act and Beyond: A Transformative Journey in Healthcare
Introduction:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law in 2010, marked a significant milestone in the history of healthcare in the United States. Its implementation aimed to increase access to affordable healthcare, improve the quality of care, and reduce healthcare disparities. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and discuss its successes, challenges, and potential future reforms.
Thesis Statement:
The Affordable Care Act has brought about notable changes in the American healthcare system, expanding coverage, protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions, and promoting preventative care. However, it continues to face challenges and opportunities for further reform remain.
Body:
Expanding Access to Coverage:
One of the primary goals of the ACA was to expand access to healthcare coverage. Through the establishment of health insurance marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility, millions of previously uninsured Americans gained access to affordable health insurance. This expansion provided a safety net for vulnerable populations and reduced the burden of uncompensated care on hospitals and healthcare providers.
Protections for Individuals with Pre-existing Conditions:
Prior to the ACA, individuals with pre-existing conditions often faced difficulties in obtaining health insurance coverage. The ACA introduced essential protections that prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions. This provision provided critical security for individuals with chronic illnesses, ensuring they had access to necessary medical care without facing financial hardship.
Promoting Preventative Care:
The ACA placed a greater emphasis on preventative care by requiring insurance plans to cover preventive services without cost-sharing. This provision led to increased screenings, vaccinations, and early detection of diseases. By focusing on prevention, the ACA aimed to reduce healthcare costs in the long run by addressing health issues at earlier stages when they are more manageable and less expensive to treat.
Challenges Faced by the ACA:
Despite its achievements, the ACA has faced several challenges. One significant challenge has been the affordability of insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for some individuals and families. While subsidies and tax credits were introduced to make insurance more affordable, some middle-income individuals still find themselves struggling to afford coverage. Additionally, there have been concerns about limited choice of insurers and rising premiums in certain areas.
Opportunities for Future Reforms:
The ACA serves as a foundation for potential future reforms in healthcare. Building on its successes, there are opportunities to address its challenges and make further improvements. Possible reforms include addressing affordability concerns by exploring options for cost control, expanding Medicaid coverage in all states, and enhancing competition among insurers to offer more choices for consumers.
Conclusion:
The Affordable Care Act has undeniably transformed the landscape of healthcare in the United States, expanding coverage, protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions, and promoting preventative care. Despite facing challenges, it has made significant strides towards achieving its goals of improving access and quality of care. Looking ahead, there is room for further reforms to address affordability concerns and enhance the effectiveness of the healthcare system. As the journey beyond the ACA continues, it is imperative to strike a balance between accessibility, affordability, and quality care for all Americans.
