Diagnosis shows public option value

I know many are against the public option mostly because they do not understand what it is. It is for people like me who did everything right.

I have taken care of my health, worked and been financially responsible. Then one day I am told by a doctor I have an incurable, crippling disease -- multiple sclerosis.

I do not qualify for any government assistance. I can get Medicare in 23 years. I have the insurance I had before the diagnosis. I cannot get any other insurance because of this disease. I will have this disease for the rest of my life.

Without a public option, I have insurance but the out-of-pocket costs are too high. Sooner or later, I could end up in bankruptcy and then I can get government disability and health care, and you the taxpayer will be paying for me instead of my paying my own premiums through a public option.

What makes more sense? My paying into a public health insurance or your paying all of my health care?

ALEXANDRA O'CONNOR

Durham

Support reform

The ultra-right minority is trying to make health care reform more about defeating an opposing president by scaring people with lies and distortions than admitting that our system has been hijacked by the insurance corporations and is flat-out broken.

We can't let them succeed.

Under the president's plan, everyone would have many more options for health care and it will be against the law to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, drop coverage when you get sick or cap the amount of coverage you can receive.

We must end the stranglehold the insurance companies have on our system and make them accountable.

I call on all of our representatives to put partisan politicking aside and support the president's plan.

Let's get the insurance companies out from between us and our doctor and support real health care reform.

JEFF SHREWSBURY

Durham

Retain embargo

I oppose lifting the Cuban embargo. If the embargo were discontinued, the United States, most likely, would continue its cash payment terms for Cuban purchases. Castro would denounce this no-credit policy as an imperialist aggression. Castro would put his propaganda skills into play and would coin a new catchy name for the U.S. not giving credit terms to Cuba. "De casta le viene al galgo ser rabilargo." (It's in the blood of the greyhound to be long-tailed.) "A rose is a rose, is a rose." Castro, Fidel before, and Raul now, was a dictator, is a dictator. Nothing will change them, neither the lifting of the embargo, nor all the saints in heaven. Actually, not even the Devil. ("Ni el mismísimo Diablo.")

GONZALO FERN