The opportunity to create a better, stronger, and more affordable health-care system is a dream come true for many Americans; however, I am dismayed by the travesty the Senate has created instead.
Watching politicians trade items on the bill like cards in a game has left the average person in a worse position and resulted in the largest potential windfall for insurance companies perhaps ever. A strong public option, or at least the revocation of anti-trust laws sheltering the insurance industry from dissolution of their monopolies, is imperative. If the final bill cannot leave Americans with affordable choices (20 percent of your income in not affordable), it is senseless to move forward with such a damaging endeavor. To further complicate matters, the battle over women’s reproductive rights should not be a bargaining chip or a roadblock to successful resolution of legislation. Language in the final bill must reflect the law as it stands without maneuvering for a better stance of attack by conservatives with a selfish agenda. I urge our elected representatives to remain mindful of the task at hand and do what is best for the people, all the people, of our nation.
This article appears in Jan 7-14, 2010.
