August 05, 2008 08:03 am
—
Health care
should be right
I am responding (rather
slowly) to Sam Pollak’s July 5
column on health care in this
country vs. overseas. I belong
to Coalition for Democracy,
which has a health care focus
workgroup. We push for legislation
that would support
a single-payer health care
system. This is different than
“socialized” medicine. Hospitals
and doctors would still be
independent. Payment would
come from a single source (the
government).
The reality is that payment
would come from us as taxpayers,
however, in a much
more even and fair measure.
Instead of the sometimes hundreds
paid each month by
both employers and employees
for premiums, deductibles
and co-pays, there would be
an across-the-board tax. This
would allow for much better
competing on the foreign
trade market (Ford could lower
production costs if it were
not spending $2,000 for each
car on employee benefits) as
well as provide for a healthier
population (why should the elderly
and uninsured have to
choose drugs over food?)
I have had jobs that provided
me great health insurance,
and, more recently, after
being disabled, had no insurance.
(There is a two-year wait
for Medicare on disability).
Not having insurance is very
scary. Health care should not
be a privilege in a country so
rich in resources. It should not
be a privilege in our country.
Please, I encourage everyone
to look into HR676, a
health care reform bill now
before the U.S. Congress and
write your representatives
regarding this very important
issue. Our group has a newspaper
out locally, The Healthcare
Messenger for Central
New York, available online at
www.democracycoalition.org.
Our next meeting is Aug. 14.
We will be sponsoring a local
stop of a statewide caravan
featuring a woman from the
movie “Sicko” on Friday, Sept.
12. Please support this very
worthwhile event in Oneonta.
Susan vonKessel
Sidney
Protesting at
funeral wrong
I sat watching the news today
and was made sick at the
fact that people were protesting
the funeral of a murdered
soldier both in Fayetteville,
N.C., and in Iowa, where the
funeral was held.
This woman, an Army lieutenant,
was murdered by her
husband. She was not killed
in the course of doing her job.
I am at a loss trying to understand
what would prompt people
to do such a thing. Protest
U.S. involvement in the Middle
East or toxic dumping in
the oceans, things that make
sense, but don’t protest at a funeral.
For God sakes, people,
show some respect.
Remember, you have the
rights that you have because
our soldiers protect those
rights. God bless our troops
and this country.
Jeremy Insetta
Greenville, N.C.
Red Caboose
needs cleaning
I grew up in Oneonta. Recently
we visited for a family
reunion. My nephew, David
Zummo, owns the Latte Lounge
on Main Street. I was amazed
how nice the downtown area
looked.
While visiting Neahwa Park,
I took some friends and family
to see the old D&H caboose. I
was shocked to see how dirty
the plastic cover around the
caboose was. It was full of cobwebs.
Oneonta will always be the
place where I was born and
raised. Please have someone
keep the Red Caboose clean.
Jack Zummo
Witchita, Kan.
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