To the Editor:

The corporate health care system in our country is a disaster! 48 million Americans, up 6.8 million since 2000, do not have health care. 32 million are underinsured. 18,000 die because they don©^t have health insurance. Nearly 50% have had their coverage cut or rates increased. 25% go without tests or treatment because their plans won't cover what they need. 50% of Americans who file for bankruptcy do so because of medical bills. All these percentages are our family, friends and neighbors.

Why in the world would anyone want the health care system to stay as it is? Because they are the ones making huge profits, thus they are the ones who benefit from telling people that Universal Health Care run by the government is evil. Ever since the Reagan years, there has been organized demonization and contempt for government, creating fear in the American public about big government takeover, especially in health care.

We have been told that we will no longer be able to choose our own doctors or hospitals when in fact that is far from the truth. We are told to be afraid of rationing. We have rationing now! Those who have health coverage get care. Those without, don't. What kind of a society allows that to happen? Some say they don't want to pay for someone else's care.

We do that now! The emergency rooms must treat those without insurance, and those with coverage end up paying more. We are scared into believing that government will interfere with our medical treatment. That has not happened in countries with universal care, but it does describe the interference in our own health care system by the insurance companies. Some would have us believe that government is costly and inefficient, and that privatization is the way to go. Social Security and Medicare are universal, not for profit, government programs that are very effective with minimal overhead. Private health care insurance companies are not effective, have inflated overhead, and produce enormous profits. Which system do you want managing your health care?

Health care is a basic human right guaranteed by every other industrialized nation. It is a moral issue. Profit should not dictate life and death. Our country provides other crucial public services such as police, fire protection and schools. Guaranteeing universal health care is not opening the door to creating a ©¯nanny state©, where everything will be government run. It merely invests in a decent quality of life for all citizens. Isn't that what "of the people, by the people, for the people" is supposed to mean?

The answer to a healthy America is to elect politicians who cannot be bought and paid for by special interest groups. Elect those with a sign on their door "LOBBYISTS WITH GIFTS PLEASE STAY AWAY". Elect those who put the people FIRST.
Bob Barton, Chair
Democratic 9th Congressional District