Democratic Party Ninth District
Greg Bentley

In the wealthiest nation on this earth, no person should be forced to make the decision between taking their sick child to the doctor or paying their electric bill. Nor should older adults be forced to choose between their prescription drugs or groceries. The Democratic Party is forcing the national debate on improving healthcare for all Americans. It is obvious that the Bush administration is not concerned because they have not addressed it for almost seven years.

Why should some have the very best healthcare available while others either have none or a policy that hardly covers the bare minimum (but has the high premium each month)? Why is it that an American worker who has worked for years suddenly finds his job shifted overseas and then finds that the private policy he can barely afford is not really coverage at all because of "pre-existing conditions"? He now is, in effect, paying a higher than normal monthly premium for insurance coverage that is somewhat worthless. The Federal Health Benefits Plan probably does not refuse coverage for any politician, thus they are insulated from the problem

It is generally agreed that our healthcare system is inefficient with excessive administrative costs, waste and fraud. Survey after survey show that the high cost of health insurance coverage is the primary reason people are uninsured. An Institute of Medicine study shows that thousands people--- Americans --- die every year from the lack of health insurance. Nearly 30% of Americans say someone in their family has delayed medical care in the past year, with most saying the condition was somewhat serious. If one family member is uninsured and has an accident, a hospital stay or costly treatment, the medical bills can affect the financial stability of the whole family.

Makes you wonder who is actually profiting from Healthcare in America. An estimated 46 million people do not have health insurance because they cannot afford it. Yet, large drug companies richly reward their CEO's with salaries and bonuses. Johnson & Johnson CEO received salary and bonuses in 2006 of $28 million, according to Dow Jones. And Merck CEO Richard Clark received $10 million in compensation. Let's not forget the insurance companies. CEO William McGuire, of United Health Group, a health insurance company, stands alone. His 2005 salary was $124 million, and he has been provided stock options of $1.7 billion, according to Forbes.com. He and his spouse will receive free healthcare for as long as they live, as if they could not afford it on their own. All the while, everyday Americans insurance premiums are skyrocketing. Drug and Insurance companies are "protected friends" of the Republican Party.

Something has to be done. Alot more needs to be said. I do not know if any one Democratic candidate has the perfect plan, but the Democratic Party seems to be the only one interested in finding a solution that works for "all" Americans. Not everyone agrees on Universal Healthcare, but what we have is not working. I, for one, am ready for a new direction.

Greg Bentley is the Chairman of the Catoosa County Democratic Party. He is a former City Councilman and a Catoosa County Commissioner. He is a Licensed Real Property Appraiser and resides in Fort Oglethorpe with his wife and daughter.