Why the media blackout on single payer?
Birmingham News
Letter to the Editor
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
It’s amazing that single-payer insurance (national health insurance) is barely covered in the media right now. With President Barack Obama’s focus on both health care and the economic crisis, you’d think information about the most cost-efficient way to design our health care system would be front and center. Add the fact 60 percent of all Americans and 59 percent of physicians favor national health insurance, and you might have to wonder whether private insurance and drug companies are now running the media. We already know they run Congress.
They’ve showered U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, with $413,000 since 2005 in the name of “campaign contributions.” And now, it’s no surprise Baucus is pushing health care reform that mandates Americans buy private insurance.
The truth is, we can save $350 billion annually by removing private insurance companies and going to a single-payer system. And, we wouldn’t be starting from scratch since our Medicare system is already national health insurance for those 65 and older.
Prestigious medical groups, religious organizations, labor unions, economists and others say national health insurance is the way to go. Obama is now asking for input on his new Web site, www.healthreform.gov, before additional health care legislation is written. Submit your ideas and demand national health insurance - as part of the real change you voted for last November.
Linda A. Haynes
Community outreach coordinator
Huntsville chapter of Health Care for Everyone - Alabama
Huntsville