Lies fuel the current debate on health care

Sarah Palin is right. “Death Panels” do exist. But she won’t admit that these panels are put in place and controlled by America’s health care insurance industries. Like every American institution, these industries have been collectively undermined by unbridled love and lust for money. Most Americans are naive on this subject. We are unaware that lies fuel the current debate on health care. Health care insurance industries often fund these lies. They are aided by self-serving politicians and media talking heads. if we “follow the money.” This truth will be revealed. Sadly we are not interested in doing this. We find it easier to indulge in mindless pursuits like sports, and “American Idol.”

In the time it takes to read this letter, health care insurers will deny thousands of insured Americans life-saving medical treatment. It will not matter that their premiums are paid. Insurance executives will decide that treating them is too expensive. Their decisions will only consider their industries bottom line.

Increasingly that bottom line is outrageous and excessive profit. The mansions, yachts and toys enjoyed by insurance executives and share holders total billions. They are the fruits of greed. Every hour, every minute, every second, thousands of American families are victimized by it.

In July, my father-in-law died in Canada at age 95. Over the course of several years before his death, he had been in failing health. He had several heart operations. For a long time, he received professional health care visits at home. Finally he was placed in a very nice nursing home. The Canadian Health Care System provided him years of excellent care and service, at no cost to him. He was not required to go bankrupt to receive this care. He was not made to forfeit the nice home that he worked all of his life to pay for. In the end his family and estate were not left with medical bills to pay. Such a fortunate outcome is not possible under America’s present health care system.

Denial of medical treatment for America’s insured drives them into bankruptcy. It also hastens their deaths. No matter. When they are dead, insurers quickly take them off their books. And forget about them. We all need to be proactive on this issue. We can start by following the money. Investigation will reveal some shocking facts. Dear reader do you have insurance? Are you covered? Are you sure? You may be the next victim of a greedy and callous health care insurance provider. Whatever you think of Obama he has placed the issue of health care on America’s mind. As a former Republican, I support his efforts. So should we all.

W. Mack Rose

US Army (Ret.)

We the people need to use our vote to make a difference

We the people, those are strong words. Say them, listen to them. We the people went into the Cumberland gap, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the Ohio Valley. We the people crossed the Mississippi River. We the people crossed the Rockies and settled in Washington State and Oregon. We fought wars to free California and Texas from Mexican rule.

Now what have we the people done? We’ve given our country away. This is still the land of the free and home of the brave, but if you really want it to stay that way then you better get off your cans and wake up. If you think your vote doesn’t count, your voice doesn’t matter then you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Our president has surrounded himself with the very trash that every soldier takes an oath to defend this country against. (Domestic enemies) Democrat has become a hateful word. Some people will tell you that our founding fathers meant to keep church and state separate. Not so.