Submitted by Tom on Tue, 2009-11-24 09:23
Jim Jorgensen calls out Latham's distortions in a letter to the Des Moines Register:
Our 4th District U.S. representative was quick to send out criticism of the health-care reform bill that passed the House. The statement by Tom Latham is filled with distortions. This historic legislation is a first step of many that need to be completed to solve this country's health-care dilemma. It is a step toward an affordable accessible health-care system for all. The notion that market forces will solve this is not common sense - it is fantasy.
Medicare is a government program. It is hardly perfect, but it is equitable, and available to all over 65. The same is not true for private insurance. This system, in contrast, denies and drops coverage for many, is unaffordable for many, assists in the deaths of 22,000 per year and bankrupts 700,000 per year, while insurance executives take home millions of dollars.
The private insurance industry can't be the vehicle for health-care reform any more than the fox can take care of the hen house.
Latham could help refine this effort. I hope he does. The goal is accessible and affordable health care for everyone. We need leadership to accomplish it.