As a progressive I think it is time to consider starting over on health care reform. We can start by removing the antitrust protection enjoyed by health care insurers in this country. Removing the antitrust protection will immediately create competition among the 1,300 companies that provide this type of insurance.
Competition between these insurers is the common-sense approach to reining in costs today and for future generations of Americans. Competition leads to lower prices,innovation in the marketplace and better service levels to the customer. Without their antitrust protection these companies will be more willing to negotiate and negotiate in good faith with the American people. The legislation to do this will give every member of Congress the opportunity to show whom they support — “big insurance” or the American people.
The second thing we need to do to reform health care and lower costs for the American people is to allow the importation of pharmaceuticals from Canada. This measure alone would save the American people $80 billion each year. As for the public option that we hear so many people talk about let us hold that in reserve until after we have eliminated the antitrust exemption for insurers and allowed the importation of medicines from Canada. If after taking these two very simple steps to reform health care and those steps falling short of our goals of reducing costs and creating more access, then we can leverage the power of a potential public option to gain other concessions from a health care industry that has for years abused the very people it seeks to care for.
Randy Willis
Anderson
Letters
Letter: U.S. should start over on health care reform
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
To save America some money — by acclimation of course — let’s not have a presidential election in 2012. We already have a good president who will do his best to kill all Republican bills (DOA) and, consequently, create more good-paying jobs in the $30 per hour range.
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Letter: Gingrich cashes in on political amnesia
Rasmussen says that Romney has flattened nationally. Why?
Two reasons seem to tell the tale. Gingrich has shown that he will fight, and Romney is a Mormon, believed to be a “cult” by a majority of evangelicals. -
Letter: Hiring Winkler not wise spending
As a taxpayer I want to know that my taxes are being spent wisely. Hiring Greg Winkler at a salary of $126,000 is not wise spending.
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve. I doubt many Americans noticed its implications because they do not yet comprehend the big picture. This law, coupled with the Patriot Act, is paving the way for America’s direction toward tyranny.
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Letter: $14 trillion debt started by previous president
I’m a proud atheist who’s lucky enough to know the difference between fact and fantasy.
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Letter: Economy putting people in the gutters
We are now getting the results of putting people in the gutters. We need to take a second look at our government and its policies. It’s not working.
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Viewpoint: Look at Creation Museum from an educational, scientific perspective
I encourage any and all who have interest in this vitally important topic to “go to the source,” to invest the time and energy into exploring The Creation Museum for themselves.
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Letter: Blame the voters for our Congress
Why is insider trading legal for Congress and illegal for the rest of us? They make and enact laws for all of us, but then exempt members of Congress. Somehow this doesn’t seem to pass the smell test.
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Letter: Smith’s firings appear vindictive
Anderson is a city of negative publicity and actions. Why else is Sears leaving? Can we stand four years of vindictive actions and negative reporting?
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Letter: Planned devaluation of dollar is coming
I’ve submitted letters regarding the existence of a global elite for years now. I’m now submitting another one in which I hope readers will take note of.
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
