Sophomore Eric Wasserstrum’s essay “Socialism Promotes Sexually Transmitted Disease: An Unintended Consequence of National Health Care” has been included in a new book, What We Think: Young Voters Speak Out.
The 288-page nonpartisan anthology, published by two Gonzaga University seniors and available at most bookstores, includes essays from students representing nearly 100 universities across the country.
Wasserstrum wrote the piece when he was executive editor of Washington Witness, the bi-weekly conservative student newspaper, and initially planned to run it in that publication. But when he received an e-mail about the book project, he submitted the piece and it was selected.
He began writing the essay last summer after a series of newspaper articles revealed the state of the British health-care system and its inability to successfully contain steadily increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases.
Wasserstrum found that lengthy “wait lists” for patient care in the socialized health care system tended to exacerbate the problem — namely they created disincentive for frequent health screening, and patients remained sexually active for the many weeks they were on a wait list.
“I’m very excited to have the essay published,” Wasserstrum said. “I have been writing for the Witness for a year and a half and have published all my other pieces in it. Publishing an article in a national title was a dream, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity.”
The book, which includes essays, poems and pictures, has been featured on CNN and MSNBC.