I feel sorry for Conor Hennessey (Letters, August 6, 2009) because I just had a free dinner given by the wonderful people of the Greenfield Farmer's Market. But then again, events like that could send us "down the slippery road of collectivism," to quote Hennessey.
Enormous cost of single-payer health care? Only if you ignore the reality that the U.S. system is the most expensive in the world by 70 percent. The overhead of the private insurance companies dwarfs that of single payers. Then there are health outcomes—the U.S. ranks 38th in the world, tied with Poland and Slovakia, and one-third of our population has no or very limited access to care. Gee, sounds like privatization works great if you ignore the facts. Oh, and we don't want the government destroying our freedoms by providing universal, high-quality health care. So let's abolish the military, all our schools, fire and police departments and the national highway system. I can't wait to bargain with the local private fire departments while my house burns to the ground.
I grew up in Canada and can only pity the fools who trash that system. To the doubters, drive a few hours north and talk to some real Canadians. Or just rent Michael Moore's Sicko, but get out your hankies, 'cause the truth ain't pretty.
Peter Kerr
Shelburne Falls
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I practiced medicine as a family doctor for over 20 years. I have watched with increasing despair as the quality of care has spiraled downwards. The current hysteria over "lack of health care choice" disgusts me.
We do not have health care choice in America. The rise of monopolistic control by allopaths (i.e., M.D.s vs. chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, herbalists, midwives, etc.) took our health care provider choices away decades ago. The introduction of a profit motive into our hospital system and the advent of health insurance conglomerates turned patients into a commodity being managed for maximum profit. The pharmaceutical industry feeds off our fear of disease, promising pain-free, stress-free, problem-free lives guaranteed by the pills they provide for us to consume.
We see the justice of universal access to a public education; what is the issue with universal access to a public health care system? And it is narcotized to remain in denial regarding which special interest groups have the most to gain by maintaining the status quo against any health care reform efforts. Wake up, America! Participate in this conversation about health care reform, whatever your political affiliation. Make your opinions known to your local, state and federal elected officials. Don't let the ones who pay the most to lobby Congress or the ones who shout the loudest in town meetings decide this debate.
Opeyemi Parham, M.D.
www.ceremonyheals.com
