Feds won’t make it more accessible

Published 8:25 am Monday, November 1, 2010

On Oct. 19, a rather scathing letter appeared on this page, the writer wondering, among other things, “How can it be called ‘socialist’ when we are looking out for the welfare of other Americans — those who have it bad in this recession?”

What the writer hopes everyone is overlooking is that caring for others — willingly, out of compassion for one’s fellows — is called “charity,” and has been practiced for millenia around the world apart from government compulsion.

On the other hand, being told that you will be forced to pay more for your health insurance (and receive less medical care in return) or face fines and penalties from the federal Internal Revenue Service — that, sir, is socialism.

Are there things that need to be done to make medical care more accessible to those in need? Certainly. Does anyone believe for an instant that creating another immense government bureaucracy, with its deputy assistant under-secretaries for administration, has any hope of being that solution?

John Frey

Mukilteo