A Letter I wrote to my Senator...somewhat long

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Senator,

I am writing with a deep concern for the welfare of my fellow countrymen and women.

My current issue is this rushed reform in our health care policy:

Seemingly enough, though it MAY need a little work here and there and just a few more people that actually care (no program is PERFECT and never will be), the United States has some of the most sought after health care in the world. So sought after, in fact, that many folks from Canada (and other countries as well) find themselves crossing our borders to seek care in our country with claims that their socialized health care simply doesn't work. They deal with enormous wait times (sometimes lasting MONTHS to be seen for serious and critical conditions in their OWN countries but can come here and be seen BEFORE their OWN country will see them!), limitations which prioritize who will be seen when and who won't be seen at all, etc and for the life of me, I can't understand how, and more importantly WHY, we would follow suit with another countrys' policies (or even anything similar) when we can intelligently learn from their mistakes and just realize that what we have is a good thing? I am in the military and this reform (unless I plan on separating in the next few years) doesn't even effect me, so these opinions and statements, rest assured, are coming from a non-biased brain.

I have read through many of the provisions of this health care bill that is being pushed across your desks and I have to say, I don't like it(and neither does the majority of the country from the last polls I have seen)!

There are no GUARANTEES that health care will be cheaper. There are no GUARANTEES that more people will be covered. As a matter of fact, if everybody DOESN'T purchase health care of SOME sort, be it private sector or government ran, they will be PENALIZED! Sounds like a government ORDER to the civilian sector to me and how do you expect people who can't even afford their mortgage due to lacking a JOB to be able to pay for health care OR penalties, Sir?! There are no GUARANTEES that health care will be better and if I had to base the proposed health care bill off of what other countries are currently using, I would say care quality would DECLINE.

PG 29 basically states that government will RATION health care...why? My health care isn't rationed in the military and neither is yours!

PG 59 basically states that the government will have access to bank accounts for elective funds transfers...why? If they are already paying IN to the health care system proposed (which they don't have a choice over) what further need does the government have with their personal information?

PG 91 government mandating linguistic appropriate services...why? Make everybody learn English...it IS the United States of American, afterall!

PG 124 no company can sue government on price fixing...sounds like a government monopoly set up and on that topic, it seems that the government offering more affordable health care to the public than the private sector will result in the government COMPETING with the private sector which goes against the Constitution! why is that ok, Senator?

PG 145 employers MUST enroll employees...whether it breaks their bank or not? what happened to having freedom of choice in our country, Sir? I used to work for businesses prior to the start of my military service and wasn't offered health care because I was part time, but I sure was happy enough just bringing a check home while I was in college.

PG 170 any nonresident alien is exempt from taxes...I guess that my wife and I and every other tax paying LEGAL American will pick up their tab...yet pg 50 sec 152 states, in what I'm gathering, that ALL citizens, whether they are legal or NOT will have health care. Sounds like these days, it really pays to be in this country illegally...that privision is crippling the want and need of a hard day's work, Senator.

PG 241 basically says that all doctors will be paid the same, regardless of specialty. Well, there goes any incentives for taking those few extra years of school. Not only are there going to be LESS doctors because the incentive just isn't there, you are going to have DUMBER doctors attempting to provide the services of what USED to be provided by a subject matter expert!

PG 253 government sets QARLYS...basically, if you're too old or too sick, care can be denied! Our average life expectancy, which has been growing for the past who knows how many years, will begin to now DECREASE for the first time in our Nation's history!

PG 354 Sec 1177 restriction on enrollment of special needs patients...what is the definition of that? Because I have a 9 year old nephew who had a severe stroke as an infant who has very limited use of his left side, is in need of extensive physical therapy and meds to control seizures (which he will have MANY of in a day without). I would hate to think that this health care plan, which claims to cover more Americans than the current health care plan, would start DROPPING the amount of people covered simply because they are special needs patients!

PG 430 in a nutshell, government will decide what treatment one has at the end of their life! government officials/doctors?

These are only a handful of my issues with this new health care reform...there are many more, I just didn't want to get into them as I don't feel that there is a need. The ones states above should be enough for this bill NOT to pass in my opinion.

If this service members' opinions on health care reform have offended you, Senator, I apologize. I cherish my miiltary career but I LOVE my country more and LOVE serving my country just the same!

I'm not a very political figure. I try and keep my opinions to myself as much as I can, but occasionally a bill comes to pass through the Senate that catches my ear that I just can't wrap my head around and this is one of them.

I wasn't for the $787B bailout and I am definitely not for a health care reform that may triple our deficit over the next 10 years and possibly impose additional taxes on the wealthy in our country (which I am not) and seemingly put an end to capitalism which has driven this country for generations.

More...

[Crazy Horse]

Knowing the attention span of a politician is limited I wrote:

If health care reform is going to be truly realized in this country, I only have one question and several comments. Has our government become so corrupt that no one will take the first step in opening dialogue / legislation to prevent drug companies from advertising their drugs on the television and in print? This has to be the first step in the right direction towards lowering the true cost of health care. It also makes no sense for these drug companies to advertise and over inflate the drug costs since all prescription drugs have to be prescribed by a doctor to begin with. The doctors are the ones diagnosing our symptoms. It also makes no sense for hospitals to advertise. They should also be prevented from wasting money on advertising and over inflating costs as well. All of this wasted spending is added cost to insurance companies as well as to us as individuals. All you government officials should consult with your constituents not your lobbyists on a regular basis.

In the past, government has passed proactive legislation banning cigarette and alcohol advertising from television and print. Health care reform is far more important a subject in my opinion. I will, as most Americans would, applaud and hold high respect to the elected official who opens this subject up publicly.

[Gunlovingvet]

Politicians and skunks are all of the same stripe.