There has been a lot of opposition facing Obama’s single-payer health plan. Everyone from Sarah Palin to businesspeople to even Whole Foods is protesting it—and making outlandish claims like universal coverage will start a wave of human euthanasia and will even turn our healthcare gay!

I suppose it’s not surprising—people always fear what they don’t know. I think that if naysayers would step outside their own experiences and notice that the rest of the developed world actually considers healthcare a right—and provides it for their own citizens—that it really does make sense, and it does yield surprising benefits for everyone.

 In reality, if we are taking care of our citizens by giving them education and protecting them with the military, it only stands to reason to also take care of them by creating an affordable national healthcare plan that gives people options, throws competition into the market, saves people from going bankrupt and generally shows that we do care for our fellow citizens.

Some states already provide a healthcare program for their citizens—or at least certain citizens—and we already have national plans for not only the poor and the elderly, but also the government agents themselves! Do we not deserve the same healthcare options that our elected leaders receive?

My friends abroad cannot believe our current healthcare system. They can’t believe how long it takes to get care, how expensive it is—including drugs—or how we completely disregard people’s health as a human right. They are also baffled by the constant stream of prescription drug ads we are pelted with daily—something that just isn’t relevant in countries where you are regularly treated with preventative care for free.

People with doubts should take a look into countries like Canada, England and France where citizens’ health is considered a right. They should do some research, contact their physicians, Congress people, and find out all they can about the benefits of a single-payer plan.

All of you who have been paying off medical bills for years, even lifetimes—can you imagine that in other countries those bills would not even exist? All of you who have been laid off, losing your coverage—imagine that you would at least be able to see your doctor if you get sick or injured during your time of need. Mothers who worry that their children who graduate from college, entering an insecure job market, will not be covered on the family’s insurance can rest assured that their children will be able to get the care they need.

Our vets who end up homeless and sick with post-traumatic stress disorder, unable to get the help they can’t afford… our self-employed or part-time family members who strive to make ends meet but just can’t because of such high premiums… our working parents who maintain multiple jobs and still can’t afford costly operations for their children—all of these people—all of our people—can benefit from universal healthcare.

While Congress is in recess, it’s important for us all to take the time to call them and let them know that we want to care for all of our citizens. In this time of great economic uncertainty it’s even more important than ever to care for people who are losing their jobs and their families.

If you already know your Congress person’s phone number, call them today and tell them your concerns. Let them know your opinion and find out where they stand. Ask that they please stand up for universal coverage when Americans need it most. If you do not know your Congress member’s phone number, you can look it up easily here.