I have asked my congressman to vote against the health care bill in its present form. In addition, I wish to register my extreme displeasure with AARP in this matter.
The AARP has not served the retired people in this country, especially not the senior citizens, at all well. In fact, I would have to say that it has betrayed us. It has not supported the retention of the Medicare Advantage program which millions of us have used to secure insurance to supplement Medicare and to help enable us to find physicians who would be willing to care for us.
In addition, it has not opposed Congress taking $500 billion dollars out of Medicare through the reduction of fraud and abuse over the next 10 years. If there that much savings can be obtained, then this money should be used to save the Medicare program from going bankrupt in 2017 as claimed by Congress. Not to do so is unforgivable. Also if there is that much savings to be had, where was Congress since 1965 and why have they allowed this much potential savings to go to waste? Many Americans feel that Congress has the idea that they are just playing with Monopoly money!
There are many other good ideas out on the political horizon that Congress has not utilized, but which they should, certainly before trying to take over and federalize one-sixth of our nation's economy.
PHILIP H. PEARCE
Durham
Important hurdle
It's only the first major hurdle but an important one nonetheless. On Saturday, a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives made history by passing HB 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
Now, this is a divisive issue for sure. But then again in the past 20 or so years that puts this issue in good company. We've limped along with a divided government so long it's no wonder so many don't trust the very union they say they would gladly lay down their lives to defend. I find it ironic that those most vocal about defending our government and way of life tend to be the ones most distrustful of our government.
So in this state of North Carolina in a sea of conservative thinking I would like to thank Rep. David Price for NOT being one of the 39 uncourageous Democrats to vote against one of the most significant bills to blow through Congress in maybe 50 years. Making large changes always takes vision and courage because the change would not be large if it were easy to do. And getting something closer to sane health care in our country is certainly a large change.
Now if Sen. Kay Hagan can do her part in the Senate and at least cancel out the negative (no pun intended) vote of Sen. Richard Burr we might be able to say North Carolina pulled its weight on this issue.
Again, thank you, representative Price.
JOHN NOEL
Durham
