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
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