Posted Dec 02, 2009 @ 12:01 AM
http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/letters/x1792918718/Among-worst-features-of-Senate-health-care-bill-is-bribery

The original Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France cost the United States a total of $15 million. This huge territory included parts or all of what would become 13 states all the way to the Canadian border.

The latest Louisiana Purchase will cost the American taxpayer $300 million for just one vote in the U.S. Senate.

Democrat Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, has included $300 million in the health care plan for Louisiana. Of course, this has nothing to do with health care; it is just to buy one vote of Louisiana Sen. Democrat Mary Landrieu.

The bribe worked. She voted Nov. 21 to send the bill to the floor of the Senate for debate.

We have the finest health care system in the world. People come here from all over the world to the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and other fine medical facilities. The problem is the high cost of medical insurance that many people cannot afford.

Rather than going to a full-blown government-run and -controlled socialist system that includes rationing and delays, there are other ways to contain costs.

Frivolous lawsuits add millions of dollars to health care costs. Both the House and Senate refuse to consider tort reform because the trial lawyers contribute large amounts of money and votes to the Democratic Party.

Allowing people to buy insurance across state lines in order to spur competition and lower costs is another option.

Possibly the worst feature of this bill — and there are many — is the raping of Medicare to the tune of nearly half a trillion dollars to help pay for it.

Another negative is when the bill is passed, taxes will start to be collected right away, but the benefits will not start for three to four years. 

RICH FREELAND, PERRY TOWNSHIP