America must come together

In response to the letter "Contrasting priorities of political parties" [May 6 letters to the editor], I must say I am shocked the Republicans could not find a more tactful messenger than Donald Baker. Perhaps it is this blind hatred that conservatives feel for anyone who isn't cut from their own cloth that has gotten them where they are today.

At a time when it is more apparent than ever that America must come together -- for our economy, for our healthcare, for our security, for our civil rights -- we hear more of the same: the politics of division and hate.

In 1948, post-war Britain was absolutely devastated and demoralized that they had endured nightly bombings during the war, and over a million homes in London alone were destroyed. The British lost over 50,000 people in The Blitz -- that's 16 Sept. 11s. Remember the way we felt on 9/11? That spirit of community, that we were all Americans, that together we could do anything?

It was out of that same spirit of national unity and pride that the National Health Service was born. The British believed if they could build bombs to kill people, they could build hospitals to help people. Their resolve helped pull Britain out of its post-war depression and provided her people with an invaluable social resource: universal healthcare.

Mr. Baker writes of the failure of socialized healthcare around the world. I don't doubt there are problems with socialized medicine, but I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. This is proven by the fact that every other industrialized nation has achieved universal healthcare -- each in its own way, and each lives longer, healthier lives than do Americans.

Mr. Baker tells of the Canadians who flock to the United States for medical care. That is hardly the case. Canadians live an average of two years longer than Americans and pay half as much for their healthcare ($2,163 versus $4,887 in 2001). Canadians complain just like we do, though. I'm sure they have had bad experiences at the hospital, just like we do (for twice as much!), but Canadians also have horror stories of going on vacation to the United States and throwing their back out and coming home with a $235,000 medical bill.

At a time when our economy is hemorrhaging jobs due in part to massive healthcare costs (14 percent of our GDP) and people long retired are being forced to go back to work to pay their insurance premiums, it has never been more necessary that Americans come together to say people's health is not a risk but a right.

Universal healthcare will relieve the burden of healthcare on employers, preserving and creating American jobs. It will relieve the burden on workers by spreading the cost of their medical risk across 300 million Americans rather than two or three million policyholders, thereby reducing everyone's premiums.

Most importantly, universal healthcare will cover every American citizen from birth until death, no questions asked, no exceptions. There will be no more denials of medical claims; not for pre-existing conditions, not for lack of pre-approval of an operation, not for an operation being "experimental." Your doctor, not an insurance company, will approve your operations. Your doctor, not an insurance company, will determine if an operation is experimental or necessary. Your doctor will note your pre-existing conditions in your file as a medical concern, not a financial concern. Doctors will no longer be concerned with your money; they will only be concerned with your health.

Casey Norman

Kempner