There is an old joke that a giraffe is a horse designed by a committee. What bigger committee is there than Congress? We are so tangled up in the deals and personal agendas; I don't think anyone in Washington remembers what they are supposed to be doing about health care.
Do they want universal access to health care? That exists now, albeit not the most efficient or effective system.
Do they want universal health-care insurance? Fine, expand Medicare to everyone who wants it, stop the hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud and encourage statewide tort reform to stop the unnecessary tests doctors order to avoid lawsuits.
Do they want universal free health care? Some do, but that is impossible. People are paying Medicare taxes now and premiums when they partake -- expand that and mandate that Medicare can never make money or lose money. Everybody pays something, everybody has insurance.
Do they want to lower pharmaceutical costs? Fine, eliminate the millions being spent on TV ads that have the sole purpose of making people second-guess their doctors on what drugs they need. Eliminate the R&D expenses for drug companies by making their investments 100-percent refundable from the government. We all benefit directly or indirectly from new drugs, we all should pay.
Health care, whether it needs reforming or not, is not a right, but that does not mean it should be a privilege. However, health care is neither now; it is a vote-getting, supporter-payoff boondoggle designed to keep those in power in power.
KEN HOGLUND
Clemmons
A new contract
The House health-care bill may soon have the 60 Senate votes to bring it to the floor. A simple majority of 51 votes will enable the bill to pass. Many think this is entirely possible.
I have an idea for everyone terrified (and we all should be) about the imposed loss of freedoms in the House health-care bill sent to the Senate. When it passes, the Republicans can simply issue a new Contract With America for the 2012 election:
1. Implement line item veto (not completed in the original Contract With America)
2. Institute term limits (also not completed in the original)
3. Completely revoke the House and Senate health-care bill passed under this current administration and Congress or completely (also retroactive) remove the current, exclusive government-insurance plans available to our Congress and president. I am sure the Republicans will do this with the same zeal, commitment and effectiveness the Democrats have in getting this health-care bill through the house -- right?
Where is Alfred E. Neuman when you need him?
JAMES R. CRAWFORD
Rural Hall
Difficult logic
It is difficult to understand the logic of South Carolina's recent news, allowing two days of tax-free gun purchases ("South Carolina will offer tax-free holiday on guns," Nov. 19). Is it to increase, even more, the sale of guns?
ANN S. RUTTER
Pfafftown
Final authority
The writer of the letter "End this controversy" (Nov. 21) cites a Bible verse as what he thinks is the final verdict on whether we should allow sectarian prayer in government meetings. But America isn't a theocracy and the Bible is not the final authority for American practices -- the Constitution is. And any attempt to make the Bible the final authority is nothing less than treason against the American way of life.
There are a few theocracies elsewhere to choose from, should the letter writer want to live in one, but I don't think they're very pleasant.
NANCY B. MORGAN
Winston-Salem
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