June 30, 2009 07:48 am Cut out middleman in health insurance A single-payer health care system eliminates insurance companies as pricey middlemen. The government pays doctors directly. It's a system that polls consistently have shown the American people favoring by as much as two-to-one. But as our Congress critters argue how our current sick system must change, they are neither considering nor are they discussing what the people who put them into office want; these are the same elected reps whose health care is free. These insurance industry flunkies are considering making it mandatory for employers to provide health insurance. And if we become unemployed, we'll still be on the dole to private health care interests. Congress is also considering making it mandatory for people to buy health insurance. Another not-so-dumb idea from an insurance company perspective. And if people cannot afford it, the rest of us will pay. Those are not health care reforms. Eliminating the very expensive insurance company middleman will eliminate that 31 cents of every health care dollar that covers all the paperwork _ the malignant tumor of the insurance cartel. I find the idea of continuing our broken for-profit health care system odious; this is a system that has us paying more for health care than any other country in the world, while the bureaucratic leech monster is sucking the life out of the medical profession. It's about time there was a serious national debate, one in which we the people are included. We need a system where everybody is in and nobody is out, where there is emphasis on prevention and healing. Earl Callahan New Berlin Turn to Jesus to stop being 'sick and tired' James Koury's letter of June 23 raises grave concerns regarding his homosexuality. He points out that he is "... sick and tired ..." six times in the letter. With all due respect, I recommend, Mr. Koury, a change in lifestyle to improve your health. Homosexual behavior is directly responsible for astronomical amounts of serious illness, death and suffering. I do not dare to presume anything about your physical health, but your lifestyle could be what ails you. You are right of course, that homosexuals are human beings in God's eyes. More than that, God loves you. But you are inaccurate regarding those of us who look to the Bible for their dogma or authority. The word, rather than being rigid, gives us unimaginable freedom, including from sin (though none of us is completely free). The word made flesh, Jesus, is offering his hand to take you from your bondage to freedom and new life. I pray that you will grab hold of it. Jerry Kabat Oneonta Tigers pricing many seniors out of games I am a fan of the Oneonta Tigers. I usually buy a senior citizens pass for all the home games. Last year, the pass was $50 for the season. This year, the price of the senior citizens pass has almost tripled in price to more than $130. I, like many Tiger fans, am on a fixed income. We're not only at the "free promotional" games. We're at all the home games. Now I'll have to pick and choose how many Tigers games I can afford to go see. I'm sure I'm not alone. What a shame. Loretta Lavrick Franklin
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