Ann Stanton – 4/17/09

This page was last updated on April 20, 2009.

We need affordable health care for all; Ann Stanton; Beaver County Times; April 17, 2009.

Note the title provided by the Times. Ms. Stanton didn’t simply say she wants “affordable health care for all,” when you read the letter you’ll find Ms. Stanton wants a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare system. Apparently government run means affordable to the Times.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I disagree with Sunday’s letter to the editor ‘Government must not run health care.’”

[RWC] Please read my paper “Healthcare.”

“Many people are without health insurance and vary in age, employment status and income. Most people want health coverage but don’t have jobs that provide it and cannot afford it on their own, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition.

“My brother died on March 7 of a massive heart attack at age 57. His situation was the same as many others who had good jobs with benefits. When the economy declined, he lost his job and health insurance.”

[RWC] Ms. Stanton appears to blame her brother’s death on a lack of healthcare but doesn’t say why. That’s also true about Ms. Stanton’s letter to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Who can afford medical care or health insurance on minimum wage? And if you think Medicaid will help you, think again.

“This country has given billions bailing out corporations and greedy CEOs who destroyed the economy and people’s lives. Now, our politicians are saying this country has spent too much and can’t be bothered creating a good universal health-care system.”

[RWC] I disagree with bailouts, but that doesn’t drive me to a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare monopoly. Ms. Stanton doesn’t seem to realize that like the recession, the politicians she wants to create “a good universal health-care system” are the guys who screwed things up in the first place.

“The uninsured need to make their voices heard when it comes time to vote. Don’t end up being an invisible casualty of a broken health-care system.”

[RWC] With apologies to a similar comment, if you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it’s “affordable.”