The Comparison of the debt ridden Virginia Tobacco Plantations to Modern Health Care Costs

The history of "wealthy" Virginia Tidewater plantation owners who grew tobacco for a living is a brilliant life lesson in the politics of autonomy.  For many years, Virginia tidewater planters grew tobacco on their large plantations as a status symbol in the early American culture. The plantation owners included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Planation owners were expected to loan money to their neighbors and townsfolk in a time where valued currency was hard to come by. Such loans existed on gentlemen's agreements and when a loan was called in, the owner apologized for such an imposition. The problem with the culture is that the plantation owners were really living stressed out lives of debt. They worked hard all year round: the planting, transplanting, topping, curating and prizing seasons dominated the local culture and dictated times of community gatherings. The fiction in it all was that the planters shipped off their hogsheads of tobacco to British merchants without any commercial say. The merchants determined the selling prices and shipped back ordered refined goods such as lace, silverware, and carriages.  The balance sheet was always in the negative based on the merchants' control of the market pricing and amount of goods ordered to ship back. The plantation owners found themselves living off of credit due to the merchants. They lived extravagant lives of debt. Over time, they felt trapped and helpless. It is surprising that they allowed this to go on for so long. When Virginian Patrick Henry rang the call for independence, the plantation owners internalized their need for independence in not just political terms, but also self autonomy from merchants who controlled their destiny. George Washington rejected the lifestyle of debt early on and turned his tobacco plantations to wheat farms. Robert Byrd sold off his belongings in a lottery that failed at paying off his debts. Others had similar doomed destinies including suicide, and penniliess endings.

Today we see the same lack of commercial savvy and trust in our nation's healthcare. While Congress endlessly debates over health care coverage, providers are charging exorbitant fees for medical services putting countless Americans into bankruptcy without even a say as to the pricing of the medical services they received.  This cannot go on too long before a movement in fueled barring Congressional action. Personal autonomy requires bargining in a commercial exchange. Whether it is the price for a shipment of goods or the cost of medical care, the consumer must have some say in cost for responsible choices to be made. Currently, a person may have a heart attack and is unconsciously transported to a facility where he or she cannot control unreasonable price gouging in the costs so effortlessly passed down to them. There are no bodies of independent regulation and appeal looking our for consumers in health costs. The closest thing is the government which goes after Medicare and Medicaid fraud. This does not help the American who is not on Medicaid or Medicare. How can a country be strong when so many of its voices have become helpless in bankruptcy courts?  The free market requires give and take. No government should dictate pricing in a commercial economy, but guidelines, prosecution of reckless avarice and choices need to be available and practiced.  We no longer answer helplessly to British merchants over the cost of our independent holdings, but we have traded this unconsciously for being hostages to our own healthcare prices.  Healthcare has turned into the modern debtor's prison. It is crippling our people. It cannot stand for our America to be proud and strong.

James Forten- The American Hero You Have Never Heard Of

Elemental to the American Revolution was the desire to be free. Americans wanted to create their own laws, control their own taxes, vote for their own people. Elevated in the pantheon hall of fame are George Washington, Ben Franklin, Patrick Henry and many others who fought for freedom or risked their lives by joining the cause and writing new laws.  Yet, a hero that American schoolchildren never hear of is James Forten.  James Forten was a free black man. His father had died at age seven, so he immediately went to work to help support his mother and family.  He worked tough jobs like chimney sweeping.  When the war broke out, at age fourteen he joined the cause. He sailed missions under Stephen Decature in a privateer ship. The Royal Louis was highly successful until one day the tables turned and everyone on board was captured.  British Royal Navy Captain John Beazley was enchanted  by young James. James had befriended his son on the ship. Captain Beazley offered James his freedom and a chance to sail to England for what he promised would be a better life.  Remarkably, James chose to be a prisoner instead. He refused to denounce his loyalty to America, despite the fact that he had no rights in his own country.  James would spend seven grueling months on the notorious prisoner of war ship, the Jersey.  An opportunity arose in his small group of prisoners to escape in a trunk in a prisoner exchange. It was determined that young James should go. However; James gave up his berth to freedom to a young white boy who was very sickly, Daniel Brewton. When the hour came, Brewton was successfully whisked to freedom concealed in the trunk. James and Daniel maintained a close friendship for the rest of their lives. Remarkably, James survived his imprisonment on the Jersey, despite the over 11,000 deaths of prisoners on the ship, many from unsanitary conditions.

After finally being released from the prison ship, James spent a year in London as the terms of prisoner exchange forbade him from fighting in the Revolution. England had progressed much farther than the United States in securing rights and liberties for blacks. He learned as much as he could that year abroad and returned home determined to become successful despite all the impediments his skin color imposed. He rose to foreman of  Robert Bridges' sailmaking operation. When Robert retired, Robert stunned all of Philadelphia by offering James the opportunity to buy his business. James employed both white and African American workers. He developed his own unique inventions to advance sailmaking. His sailmaking business was in great demand. He became one of the most wealthy and respected businessmen in Philadelphia. He had a reputatino for being not only a savvy businessman, but a kind and fair boss.

As his wealth grew, so did his leadership in the community and philanthropy. He successfully advocated against amendment to the Fugitive Slave Law which would have heaped many restrictions on African Americans.   He eventually led the African American community in opposing large scale colonization plans that were an attempt to rid the country of its black population. All this at a time where he could not even vote.  He suffered many indignities, such as the destruction of Pennsylvania's Hall, which he helped fund where African Americans would assemble for meetings. The list is long of how James Forten stood up against continued injustices thrown at the African American community intended to encourage their departure out of the country. He always maintained a calm dignity to his manner, no matter what was thrown at him. He charitably funded a newspaper instrumental in articulating the rights of the black community, in addition to funding schools that would educate and train children of color. Like acorns from a tree, all his children grew into strong advocates for the rights of black Americans following his lead.  He was an example in family, business, and the community. He was a strong pillar of his church.  When James Forten passed, he had one of the largest funerals Philadelphia had ever witnessed. His service was attended by black and white alike. James had loaned out much of his wealth to many needy Philadelphians of all persuasions and color during times where money could scarcely be found. When he died, a huge portion of his assests, the outstanding loans, were never repaid.  James Forten was not a man afraid of risk. He lived by principle and treated no man on the basis of the color of his skin.

As history passes, it is incumbent upon us to remember not just those whose stories we have glorified for the ages, but to include a Founding Father hero, James Forten, who achieved more with much less. James Forten is an example of how one must never accept the limitations told or handed down upon them. We each, individually, despite all circumstances are the masters of our fate and the world is a much better place when we bravely live our lives to improve the plot of others.