A dose of courage, a splash of confidence
What is needed right now in Congress is a large dose of courage and intelligence [“State Dems still divided,” News, Nov. 23].
Courage to stand up and make decisions that benefit the majority of Americans, and the intelligence to truly understand that if we don’t begin the crucial task of reforming health care in a significant way today, runaway costs will make the system even more untenable. Then America would really be in trouble tomorrow.
It is a dark time in America, and witnessing a courageous stand by our politicians on behalf of the citizens would be a balm for a troubled nation.
— Rebecca Sullivan, Seattle
H.R. 676: Rep. John Conyers’ health-care bill
I am dismayed at the approach and trajectory of the health-care reform solutions.
The best solution to the health-care access crisis is Medicare for all, as outlined in H.R. 676, otherwise known as the Conyers Bill.
As a person approaching the age of 65, I am very concerned that Medicare will be severely limited by the time I enroll. Let’s fix Medicare first, then use it as the model to provide single-payer health care for all.
— Marcia Stedman, Bothell
Health and fitness has its place in current reform
One important aspect of health and fitness is being left out of the health-care reform debate. Physical exercise is not being given a role in health-care reform, even though it has the potential to save billions of dollars.
Sometimes doctors will prescribe exercise, but because of the lack of incentives most of the time it is not followed. Patients find it much easier to take medications. Some doctors think that getting patients to exercise is as hard as getting them to quit smoking, which implies the need for incentives.
Minimal amounts of cardiovascular exercise, when practiced by the aged and disabled, have a value in saved medical costs comparable to the hourly rate of a high-paid occupation. Although strength, balance and flexibility exercise are more specific in effects, they also have high value.
The government, whose primary role is that of a rule maker, has the duty to promote positive behavior through incentives. Incentivizing exercise could yield rewards not just for citizens, but also for the government’s finances in saved medical costs.
— Dale McCracken, Renton
Filibuster is full of it, let’s get rid of it
It is time to end the power of the Senate filibuster [“First key vote on Senate health bill,” page one, Nov. 21]. This anti-democratic process has distorted the vote of the Senate far too many times (112 times recently), and Americans are frustrated by the inability of elected officials to do what they’ve been elected to do.
We elected Barack Obama and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate to end the Iraq war and implement universal health care. Yet, because of the filibuster, the minority still controls the direction of the country.
It takes 60 votes to end a particular filibuster, but only 51 to reform or eliminate this roadblock. This is not a nuclear option— it is an option to return to a more democratic and productive system of government that would be more equipped to address current grave economic, environmental and global problems.
I suggest retaining the filibuster as a temporary delaying device, so the voice of the minority can be heard one last time before a vote is taken. Then no vote would be needed to override the filibuster, only a deadline. We need to urge our elected officials to reform this process so we can make the much-needed changes we’ve already voted for.
— Rosemary Adang, Seattle