One American dies every twelve minutes because they lack health insurance that may have otherwise saved their lives; there are currently fifty million Americans that are uninsured. In 2011, a man died of a tooth infection that could have been resolved with an inexpensive procedure, had he had insurance. Unfortunately, he was unemployed and lacked dental or medical insurance, foregoing the procedure. A week later, his face had swelled and again, he had to pass up on healthcare, this time on an antibiotic that would have gotten rid of the infection. Another week later, the infection spread to his brain, which caused swelling, and he died. Should the government take responsibility for its people and provide healthcare to the country or should people take responsibility for themselves and provide their own insurance?

Healthcare is a controversial topic that often times pins Democrats and Republicans against one another. Should the government provide health insurance to its people or should people provide their own insurance through private companies? The main issue surrounding the topic of healthcare is who should pay for what. Where people stand on the matter is based on the cultural mythologies that they believe in. People on the Left are normally progressive, believing healthcare could be reformed and that people could be more interdependent, with each other and with the government. People on the Right normally adhere to tradition, believing there is no need for healthcare reform and that it is the individual’s personal responsibility to acquire health insurance.

In America Again, Stephen Colbert examines healthcare, providing a radical Right-winged view in comical illustrations and text, while suggesting a more liberal approach in reality. By analyzing these words and images, it is clear that Colbert believes the conservative position is flawed because of their radical sense of self-reliance and “every man for himself” attitude; he believes a more progressive, liberal position will resolve the healthcare issue, providing universal healthcare to the country and forgoing the need for private health insurance.

Opening America Again to the chapter on healthcare, Colbert sits on an examination table wearing a lab coat, holding his book in one hand and prominently sawing his own leg off with the other. Looking more closely at the image, one can see a bottle of vodka on the table and numerous posters and models of the male sex organ. Connotatively, these are just objects,but certainly this is not how doctor’s offices, or doctors, really look; the abnormalities in the illustration allow us to see what is not quite right with the image, the signs, or in Colbert’s argument, what is wrong with the conservative position on healthcare.

When examining the illustration that opens the chapter on healthcare, the eye is drawn to Colbert’s leg, which he is amputating himself with a handsaw. Obviously, this is not what is expected in a doctor’s office, just as Colbert would not expect someone to do the procedure themselves. Denotatively, this is a criticism of the right-wing view on healthcare, which values independence and self-reliance. Would a conservative Republican use “do-it-yourself” healthcare if they could not afford health insurance? On the other hand, the Left-wing liberals would say that interdependence would eliminate the need for “self-care,” as the government would provide universal healthcare and allow people to receive the medical attention they require. Colbert argues that independence and individualism will only get a person so far, until they find themselves trapped and unable to afford health insurance, leaving them to saw off their own leg; instead, it is more sensible to step away from individualism and come together as a community to guarantee healthcare for everyone, regardless of financial situations.

After taking in the self-mutilation of Colbert’s leg, a bottle of vodka can be found sitting on the examination table next to him. One would be shocked to find a doctor using his office as a liquor cabinet, or even more so when the doctor attempts to use the bottle as a remedy or medication. This element of the illustration can be taken out of the system, as it seemingly doesn’t fit into the scene; however, Colbert argues that conservatives would expect the alcohol to be there, as it is tradition. If Republicans value tradition and independence so much, why would they use private health insurance or healthcare? Instead, they should grab a bottle of alcohol from the bar or liquor cabinet and use old home remedies to treat all of their ailments and injuries; that’s what they did in the good old days! The liberals, of course, would laugh at this, saying that is exactly why universal healthcare is necessary; the liberals are looking towards the future, with all of its medical advancements, where Republicans are looking to tradition, where the life expectancy was half of what it is now and where most home remedies really didn’t work.

Typical doctor’s offices are clean and simple, usually with white or pastel-colored walls that voice sterility. It is not uncommon to see posters or diagrams of various ailments, diseases, or even body systems; however, the illustration depicts numerous posters, diagrams, and plastic modules of the male sex organ, which is anything but common. These images dominate the room, as Colbert argues, men have traditionally dominated the medical field. Conservatives, adhering to tradition, would say this is how it was and how it should remain. Liberals, on the other hand, would say that many women are successful doctors and that tradition does nothing but discriminate against them. Colbert argues that the conservative ideology is flawed in that they believe that the healthcare system is free of flaws and not in need of change. He believes in a more liberal ideology that sees that the room for improvement will benefit the healthcare system.

America Again shows the views and opinions of radical conservatives as depicted by Stephen Colbert. In terms of healthcare, the illustration reflects how Colbert sees the republican side of the controversy: ridiculous, out of place, and over the top. The liberals, in his opinion, offer a more reasonable argument about healthcare. If one agrees with Colbert, they would see the republican view as out-dated, discriminatory, and even sexist; they would hold the same belief as Colbert and the Democrats, that universal healthcare should be provided to the community and that people should focus on interdependence because of their “we’re all in this together” mantra. If one believes Colbert’s argument is invalid, they may side with the republicans, valuing independence and individualism. They would see the liberal agenda as a way to place blame on the government or the community, instead of taking personal responsibility for their own actions and decisions.They would therefore argue that health insurance should be provided by private companies that the individual would pay for. Is healthcare a universal right that relies on interdependence or is it a personal responsibility that is based on individualism? According to Colbert’s argument, Republicans would say the man without health insurance died because he didn’t take responsibility for acquiring health insurance; the liberals would have saved his life.