Clearing up Kerry’s visit, health care

I’m writing regarding a few issues that I feel need to be clarified:

1. Bill Sheets’ article last Saturday regarding John Kerry’s visit stated a 3 to1 ratio of Kerry’s supporters to Bush’s. I attended the rally from 4 p.m. until after 6 p.m. I counted the demonstrators on each side. Bush supporters actually outnumbered Kerry’s 2 to1.

2. Recently, the media reported with great hoopla that 45 million Americans are without health insurance. This number, which is about what it was during the Clinton years, is misleading. The media would have served the public better if they had thought to provide some explanation of who is counted in that figure. The uninsured 45 million include those who were uninsured for as little as a single week in 2003. The number also includes such populations as the 20- to 34- year-olds earning more than $50,000, who chose not to have health insurance. Also counted in that number are illegal aliens. The number of American citizens who wanted but could not obtain health insurance for a significant part of 2003 is much lower.

It should not escape attention why health insurance has become so expensive. A large part of the reason is the plaintiffs’ bar. Trial lawyers, such as John Edwards, have made fortunes suing doctors. Many such lawsuits are frivolous. An obvious solution is tort reform. John Kerry has opposed or voted to block medical liability reform at least 10 times. Kerry is now pushing a $2 trillion health care plan, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s plan.

Personally, I prefer our president’s health savings account, where each of us can decide how to spend our health care dollars, rather than the government telling us how to spend them.

This election is too critical to not be informed.

Hoa Appel

Marysville

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Saturday, Feb. 8

A sketechy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Comment: Democracy depends on support of local journalism

A state bill provides funding to support local news outlets through a modest tax on tech businesses.

Comment: Love is intoxicating; romance doesn’t have to be

Navigating sobriety while dating, with Valentine’s Day coming up, is possible and fulfilling.

Comment: State attempt at single-payer health care bound to fail

Other states have tried, but balked when confronted with the immense cost to state taxpayers.

Forum: Requiem for a lost heavyweight: Sports Illustrated

SI, with Time and NatGeo, were a holy trinity for me and my dad. Now, it’s a world of AI clickbait.

Forum: Political leaders should leave trash talk to ballplayers

Verbal intimidation is one thing on the basketball court; it shouldn’t have a place in our politics.

The Buzz: Why, no, we have complete trust in Elon Musk

But whatever he and Trump are doing to the country, could they please wish it into the cornfield?

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Feb. 7

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.