Health care letters 8/28

Sowell wrong about British health system

It is not for the U.K. to intervene in America’s health care debate. But misrepresenting facts — as Thomas Sowell did, claiming Britain’s National Health Service has “unsanitary ward(s)” and “inadequate nursing care” — does a disservice to America’s democratic process (“Do you want a panel making medical choices?” Opinion, Aug. 18).

In truth, our NHS provides excellent care accessible to all — regardless of age, health or income — at less than half the per-capita cost of the U.S. system.

Certainly, in any country, you find examples of substandard care. But the Commonwealth Fund surveyed doctors and patients in six nations — including the U.S. — and ranked British health care the best. And WHO calculates British life expectancy at 79.2 years, compared to America’s 78 years.

As for being “unsanitary”: Last year’s survey of 70,000 NHS patients rated 95 percent of wards clean.

Finally, surveys show the NHS rated good or excellent by the vast majority of the people whose opinion matters most — those who use it.

Martin Rickerd is British Consul-General, Atlanta

Build trust by cost-cutting right now

As someone without steady work for almost a year, who is paying $500 a month for health insurance, I would agree that we need thoughtful reform (“We must loosen insurance’s grip,” Opinion, Aug. 20).

However, I cannot support President Obama’s plan until he convinces me we can afford it. He claims he will cut “hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and inefficiency” in programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Perhaps this is where he should start with solving the current problem.

Instead of eloquent speeches and essays, our president should prove he is capable of actually cutting waste, holding both Republicans and Democrats to more efficient spending, and competently managing the federal budget. Perhaps then he may start to see significant support for his reform bill.

Without providing real proof that Washington is indeed able to show accountability with my tax dollars, I cannot comfortably support any bill from either party that adds billions to our already disturbing federal spreadsheet.

Kip Howard, Marietta

I’m angry at being treated like puppet

Cynthia Tucker’s “We are anxious, not angry” (Opinion, Aug. 16) is exactly why she misses the boat as a columnist. First, I am angry and not anxious.

I am angry because President Obama’s cultural re-making of this country in a relatively short amount of time has no input from “We the People.” We are like puppets on a string being manipulated by those we have foolishly elected.

She asks, “I can dream, can’t I?” I would suggest that if she thinks that “Democracy is a vastly superior system, of course, but our particular brand of democracy is a bit dysfunctional at the moment,” Tucker is having a nightmare!

We are a republic trying to avoid the “democracy” branding that Obama and his cronies want us to embrace.

Herb Whitson, Conyers