By the score they were dying from horrendous injuries. No medical care was afforded them, nor was health care coverage available in any form, from any source.

It was happening when drivers took their eyes off the road, when they moved along being pulled this way or that, or when they failed to look at what they didn’t wish to see. In all such cases small creatures suffered.

Thousands of turtles and frogs — approximately 10,000 of them annually — were dying in a simple attempt to cross a road – the Lake Erie Long Point Causeway. Turtles and frogs had to cross that causeway to breed, forage, and nest. Of course, some may have been off on a frolic, but we can identify with that — can’t we?

Good neighbors became concerned. What could be done to alleviate the slaughter ? How could all those turtles and frogs receive affordable, effective coverage?

The neighbors organized. They raised local money and received additional funds from a U.S/Canadian cooperative program – a program funded, in part, by The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Then they set to work building fences and laying culvert. Fences to guide entrance to a fully covered system The culvert runs under the causeway’s entire width and is expansive enough to accommodate all — even those with preexisting conditions. As a turtle and frog healthcare administrator remarked: “If they fit, they go through.” There are no copays, no deductibles — no curves — it’s a straight shot.

Where is this system? In Canada. Folks there take universal health care coverage seriously. Not only do they provide universal coverage for turtles and frogs they provide it for people as well – just as they do in Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, and many other countries.

And why not? When driving distractions and the crushing weight of vested interests are brushed away — a straightforward solution comes into view.

The larger the number of creatures in any given insurance pool – turtle, frog, human, or otherwise – the more efficiently the risks associated with that pool can be spread and managed. The easier it becomes to keep the entire system afloat. It’s a matter of math, not politics; buoyancy, not negativity; compassionate care, not profit opportunity — inclusion, not exclusion.

Perhaps we should emulate the turtle/frog system. After all, like them, we commence at a point of origination on our way to a common destination. We need only enhance the dimensions of the coverage and tweak its dynamics.

It’s not a question of income, tax advantage, political party, status, or preexisting condition. Though we come in different sizes, colors, depth of shell thickness, and distances hopped – all of us need to get through.

Recently, the Traverse City Record Eagle reported that Asian Carp were discovered closer to Lake Michigan. An editorial opined that if those carp get in they could sink The Great Lakes.

Currently, a barrier near Chicago is preventing the carp from gaining access. This barrier system is funded by – wouldn’t you know — The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – the same program that helps fund the turtle/frog coverage system.

The present administration wants to eliminate the Initiative; its proposed 2018 budget “defunds” the program. If this defunding occurs it will shut out turtles and frogs from coverage just as assuredly as medicaid defunding will deny health care access to people.

Defunding The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative could cause the barriers to fail and allow the carp to come in.

It’s not carp we want to let through — it’s the turtles and frogs – and people.

Doug Pugh’s Vignettes run bi-weekly on Tuesdays. He can be reached via email at pughda@gmail.com.