Usually, I don't bother to read the letters to the editor from
our local newspaper which has a major conservative bias
and presents that point of view only. Today they printed
a letter from Richard Westmoreland of Edmond, Oklahoma
which gave a cogent view of health care in the U.S. and I
quote:

"More than thirty million Americans are without health insurance of any kind.

We spend more on health care than any country on earth.

The World Health Organazation ranked the United States
thirty seventh in access/affordability/quality of health
care among the nations of the world.

We spend 25 percent more per capita than the country
ranked first.

Health care bills are the chief reason for personal bankruptcy in this country.

Many of the less informed continue to point out that those
without insurance can go to the emergency room.If you
have no insurance and get cancer you are going to die from
cancer. The emergency room doesn't do chemotherapy.
The emergency room won't help you if you have a chronic
heart condition. If you have no insurance and your child
is born with a serious illness, the nightmare in store won't
be limited to the child's illness.

Health Care in this country is a moral issue. We should all
be ashamed that half of our citizens are so selfish. We
should be ashamed that money and special interest influence on law making than taking care of human beings
who are unable to care for themselves."

He made the point very well. My daughter works with
people who have no insurance. Many of them have cancer
and the only treatment they have is to self medicate with
alcohol. This is sad, sad, sad!