Demonstrators unclear about bill

Demonstrators unclear about bill

Thank you for your coverage of the demonstration opposing health care reform held in front of U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher’s office on Tuesday. It is indeed an inspiration to see citizens boldly opposing a legislative measure, while at the same time admitting that they do not know what the legislation says. If only they had scheduled their demonstration for a day later they could have read the summary of the legislation contained in the Wednesday edition of this paper. Darn.
While your coverage was excellent, we do have a couple of suggestions for improvement. Next time you are covering a demonstration by those opposed to health care reform, please make sure that none of the protesters were among the more than 25,000 people in Southwest Virginia who have stood in line to seek free medical care from the Remote Area Medical efforts in Wise County. And while you are at it, make sure that none of them are among the 16 percent of people in Southwest Virginian who are without health insurance. You know that those folks would be biased in favor of getting some form of health care coverage.
Secondly, some of those in the Tenth Amendment Foundation are old enough to receive Medicare and Social Security. We hope that your reporter will be sure to clarify that this principled group is opposed to those government run insurance programs, as well as the one presently under consideration. Surely they would appreciate your paper clarifying their opposition to all government-run health care and insurance programs so that their views are not made to appear hypocritical.

Jean and Larry Harley
Abingdon, Va.

Everyone deserveshealth coverage

I am among the fortunate who have good health insurance coverage. Maybe you are, too. But we need to look beyond ourselves to the many people who are suffering, and dying, because they don’t have access to adequate health care. Some don’t have it because of pre-existing conditions, some because they got sick and had their policies cancelled, and some because they cannot pay for other basic necessities and have money left to buy a policy worth having. This circumstance is not acceptable in the United States of America.
I for one cannot rest while millions are priced out of the market, go bankrupt because of medical bills, or have the stress of not knowing what will happen if they get sick. If we continue to ignore these injustices and do nothing, more and more of us will find ourselves in that situation. I hope you will join me right away in letting members of Congress who represent Tennessee know that you favor reform. Please call 1-866-922-4970.

Claire Lovelace
Jonesborough, Tenn.

Senate bill should be rejected

Bribes, coercions, rule bending and partisanship are not the usual methods needed to pass good legislation. Though health insurance reform is needed, the 2,700-page Senate Health Bill is unpopular because it is not good legislation.
In 1966, Medicare was considered good legislation in the short term. That year it cost $3 billion. Its estimated cost for 1990 was $12 billion. The actual cost in 1990 was $107 billion. It was poor legislation in the long term. Costs of the current Senate bill will surely exceed projections by trillions.
Good legislation embodies the Golden Rule and does not encourage me to force you, nor you to force me, to pay for abortions, health care for the smoker or insurance for the irresponsible. I stop at stoplights for you to pass and want you to do the same for me. A good win-win law. We both benefit. The Senate bill is win-lose in the short term and lose-lose in the long term. Special interests win in the short term and many healthy, self-responsible people lose. Long term we all lose as the U.S. goes broke.
Good legislation is prudent, frugal, just, temperate, bipartisan, acceptable to most people, not unduly coercive and enacted according to established rules. The current Senate bill fails these criteria and should be rejected.

Charles Wassum III
Marion, Va.