2008 Should Be
Health Care Year

As we enter a new year, I think many of us think of something we would like to see change in this year. I would like to see health care.

I believe health care is a human right—just as pure water, pure air and unpolluted soil are human rights. I really resent the money I send Blue Cross/Blue Shield each month (which I really can’t afford) when banks and private insurance companies are making millions, even billions, on health care.

Michael Moore, with his movie "Sicko," has been able to inspire about 45% in this country to at least talk about health care, and made them aware of the role of insurance companies and how different it is in counties where they play no role.

It is time for a single-payer, federally-funded health care system. A recent national poll indicated 65% of Americans support government guaranteeing every citizen health care, even if it meant increased taxes. There is increasing support for the single-payer system, but there is also a large amount of money (in the billions) spent by the health care industry to discredit it.

Winning this battle for affordable health care for all Americans will not be easy, but I believe we have a chance in 2008 that we never had before, and I have been involved with this for a very long time.

Marion Leonard

Rochester

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