I was fortunate that all my employers offered health insurance. That may be why I went early to my doctor to treat symptoms of what turned out to be cancer.

My successful treatment, done early, may be one reason I was saved from having to undergo radiation. Not only was I spared that trauma (or even early death), but the costs of treating my illness were much less.

Unfortunately, many working Americans have no health insurance. Their employers may not offer it, or they are self-employed.

Unlike most developed countries, Americans do not have universal health care coverage. This can mean delayed visits to the doctor for symptoms until the illness is more expensive to treat and more likely to be deadly.

In addition, if your employer does provide healthcare, they have one more tie to keep you working for them. You may have a tyrannical boss or even a predatory one, but if your healthcare depends on them, you may think twice before leaving a bad situation.

In addition, fewer potential entrepreneurs will begin their own businesses and experiment with new ideas if they must give up access to healthcare as a condition of striking off on their own.

Transportation infrastructure, good schools, and a strong military are our important assets for a vibrant economy. So are healthy citizens.