Unless you’ve had your head under a rock recently, it’s hard to miss that debate going on in this country over health-care reform.
Depending on where you stand, H.R. 3200—America’s Affordable Health Choices Act—is either the first step on the road to the horrors of socialism or the wonder-drug cure-all for a broken system.
That debate came home to the Central Coast over the last few weeks: Director of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business Andy Caldwell hosted a town hall on the subject on Aug. 20 at the Santa Maria Library.
“A distinction needs to be made between health care and health insurance,” he said, explaining the issue of health-care reform in the United States. “Everybody has access to health care whether they can afford it or not in America via community clinics and laws governing hospitals.
“I think reform needs to happen, but nothing in the Obama plan addresses real problems such as malpractice, tort reform, the ability to purchase insurance across state lines, and what to do with end of life costs—except pulling the plug on grandma,” he said.
Matt Kokkonen, a financial planner and challenger to Lois Capps’s Congressional seat in the 2008 election, also hosted a town hall meeting of his own. He weighed in on answers to health-care reform in an interview with the Sun: “We can cover the uninsured with these risk pools,” he said, referring to California’s Major Risk Medical Program, “but they’re not adequately funded, and there is a long wait.”
Kokkonen added that one solution would be to allow people to buy health insurance across state lines.
“Twenty years ago we could get insurance proposals [in California] from who knows how many different companies,” he said. “Today, there are only four or five.”
Kokkonen’s health-care reform town-hall meeting was held at the Sands Suites and Motel in San Luis Obispo on Aug. 27. He said he was pleased with the “spirited” event.
“I asked people to express their feelings or thoughts,” he said. “We did not muffle anybody. I think it’s just as important to express thoughts as well as emotions. That’s the way it should be—had I asked for people to be very civil and show respect … I think that’s passé.”
Thoughts and emotions were definitely on display, as opinions on both sides of the debate were met with boos and cheers. Signs proclaimed “You keep your change, I’ll keep my $$$” and “Healthcare Corporations have NO interest in our health.”
“The system that exists now is broken,” said Jim Mallin of San Luis Obispo. “If you don’t think we have rationing of health care now, you need to wake up.”
Morro Bay resident Dick Snyder implored politicians to “slow down.”
“Stop spending our money!” he said. “What’s the rush?”
Kokkonen, himself an immigrant from Finland, noted in a later interview that U.S. health care is the best in the world.
“I don’t want that to go to a socialized system,” he said. “A socialized system will have rationing of care, and there would be no way for private industry to compete with a government option.”
Both Caldwell and Kokkonen noted that part of their reason for holding town halls was the lack of an open forum from U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara).
“Why is our representative nowhere to be found?” Kokkonen said. “Unfortunately, Capps has failed to hold town halls and meet with the public.”
In response to questions about health-care reform and recent local town hall meetings, Capps’ office announced that she’ll be hosting her own town hall meeting on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks St., in San Luis Obispo.
“Americans have a strong tradition of thoughtfully considering the most pressing policy questions of our time and the discussion over comprehensive health insurance reform is no exception,” the Congresswoman announced via e-mail. “Reforming our broken health insurance system is a cause that I’ve been extensively involved in throughout my life, and I am strongly supportive of the reform legislation, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) that was recently approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”
Contact Staff Writer Nicholas Walter at nwalter@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 3-10, 2009.