In his characteristically humorous way, Alan Viarengo (letters,
Aug. 14) implies that the thousands of Americans who are losing
medical coverage while being laid off from their jobs should move
to Canada.
Dear Editor,
In his characteristically humorous way, Alan Viarengo (letters, Aug. 14) implies that the thousands of Americans who are losing medical coverage while being laid off from their jobs should move to Canada. I doubt that is practical, and I think the United States should treat its citizens as humanely as other great nations treat their citizens – not force a mass migration north.
Other industrialized countries have found ways to provide health care to all their residents at half the cost here, with better results. Let’s not be afraid of the unknown. Can’t we work together to find a creative American solution to this problem?
Alan: Although some Canadians may come to the United States for medical care, I’ve read that a larger number of Americans order their prescription drugs from Canada because they can’t afford the prices here.
Chuck Flagg, Morgan Hill
Health insurance costs keep going through the roof – do something!
Dear Editor,
We pay $10,000 a year in premiums to our insurance company and we each have a $2,500 deductible.
We used to pay (5 years ago) $3,000 in premiums and had a $500 total deductible. Soon, if something doesn’t change, we will be among the many who can no longer pay for insurance.
Get it done and stop the usual politics involved. This is a serious problem. Listen to me … not the yellers!
Susan Read, Gilroy
Public insurance option will create competition for corporate care
Dear Editor,
Having a public insurance option is just that: an option, not a government plot to take over our health care. It will create real competition for private health insurers, who have hijacked our health care system for their own profit.
The strident voices that are disrupting Town Hall meetings and trying to drown out real debate are being fed, misled and funded by corporate lobbyists.
Real Americans want REAL health care reform, and the public option is a vital part of that reform.
Jan Saxton, Aromas
Paramedics, firefighters thanked for the professional treatment
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the paramedics and firemen who came to our rescue twice two weeks ago. During our medical emergencies, all of the personnel were professional, and compassionate.
I was impressed and very thankful that we have such people in our community. The first emergency required transportation to the hospital and they asked for my insurance card to facilitate treatment. The second one did not require hospitalization but I asked if they wanted the insurance card. I was told “No, you have already paid for our services.”
James Pearson, Gilroy
Time for Democrats to go nuclear and get rid of the filibuster
Dear Editor,
Since the Democrats took control of the Senate the Republicans have used the filibuster to block almost everything. The filibuster is just a Senate rule and not part of the Constitution and is supposed to only be used in extreme cases rather than all the time. The Democrats can get rid of the filibuster doing a procedure called “the nuclear option” to get the Senate back to a 51-vote majority rather than this artificial 60-vote threshold. America voted and we won and it’s time for us to rule. So I’m asking the Dems in the Senate to go nuclear and get rid of the filibuster.
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
Derailing the bullet train already done – track property rights taken
Dear Editor,
Derailments do happen, but fortunately, not as frequently as truck accidents, or auto accidents.
Accidents aside, the problem comes in paying for the transport, of any mode, even assuming that accidents will, inevitably, be part of the transport experience … Titanic, Challenger, the accidents are not the real story, but rather, the imposition of untenable transport on future generations. That’s the real train wreck in the bullet train story.
How can we worry about tunneling Bullet Train tracks on the San Francisco Peninsula if Union Pacific won’t allow the High Speed Rail Authority over, under or across its tracks? Take a look at the geographical position of the UP’s tracks, which go through Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Now try to imagine getting up the SF Peninsula without violating UP’s property rights. No way, no how.
Joe Thompson, Gilroy
