Opinion Letters
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Reform must include public option
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Published: November 9, 2009
In T.R. Reid's The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, he writes that the United States ranks 37th, behind Costa Rica and just ahead of Slovenia and Cuba, in health care. We lead the world in health-care spending, yet have lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and lower recovery rates from major diseases.
How is it that the United States, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, has a national health-care system comparable to that of a third- or fourth-world country? How is it that America has not managed to guarantee health care for everyone, rich and poor, young and old, at a reasonable cost, as have all other technologically advanced, industrialized democracies?
Now is the time to let Congress know that health-care reform must include a public option, which offers the only real possibility of choice. Those who prefer private health insurance should be able to obtain it, but those who prefer a public plan should have that option. Health care is a basic human right similar to that of education, whether one chooses to attend private or public schools.
"Socialized medicine" was a term popularized by a public-relations firm working for the American Medical Association in 1947 to demonize President Harry Truman's plan for a national health-care system. Though that term is still used as a scare tactic, many Americans already participate and appreciate some form of socialized medicine -- veterans, seniors and congressmen.
MARGARET SUPPLEE SMITH
Winston-Salem
Some good news
There has been a lot of bad news lately, but those who pay attention can see some good.
Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh has all the money he could possibly want, but he cannot get what he really wants, i.e., an NFL franchise ("Limbaugh dropped from investor group," Oct. 15). See, when you are an ugly racist, no one wants you to be around them. You will be excluded from polite society. Your money will do you no good.
It was good news indeed to see Limbaugh get called out by the NFL, its players and my man, the Rev. Al Sharpton. Keep going Al, you are a great American.
LINDSEY BETTY
Winston-Salem
Art delay raises questions
I am deeply concerned about the removal, and now delay, by the Winston-Salem Police Department, of site-specific art created and placed by the internationally acclaimed artist, Mark Jenkins ("Artist's mannequin awaits permission to startle people," Nov. 3).
I am a professional artist with past exhibitions in New York, Atlanta, Washington, Brussels, Zurich and other cities. I am also a native and avid supporter of the arts and artists in Winston-Salem. I do not know all the details surrounding the actions taken by the police. Nor am I aware of all the preparations that were or were not done to gain all the necessary permissions.
However, this does raise questions for the police department and the city officials, the administration of SECCA and the general public in Winston-Salem.
Are we really the City of the Arts if the police, already famous for bad decisions over the past decades, are the final arbiters of what is art and what is not?
When the police are the final arbiters of what art stays or what is removed, this process is horribly short-circuited and strikes of policies that are totally anti-American.
I propose that the city of Winston-Salem apologize to Mark Jenkins and reconsider calling ourselves "the City of the Arts."
WILLIAM R. FIELDS
Winston-Salem
Money is the key
Don't be fooled; only a handful of our elected officials truly care about health-care reform. Our federal officials have some of the best care there is and you can bet they will never agree to give it up to be part of the health-care program they are hoping to dump on us.
Our country spends more on health care that any other country on the planet and we are at best in the middle of the road when it comes to how well we are physically as a country. Our health-care industry is not at all driven by the hope that you will get the best care when walk in the door. Money is the key to everything, although we can give free care to those who are not even U.S. citizens.
Yes, there is a real health-care crisis in our country and it is a fact that lawyers sue hospitals, hospitals increase rates, insurance companies have to pay the lawsuits and health-care claims and then have to increase rates, which of course all comes back around to the consumer.
When all is said and done we, the people, end up bearing the cost.
STEVE L. HOLLINGSWORTH, RN
Rural Hall
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