LETTERS: HEALTH CARE IS ANOTHER STEP TOWARD SOCIALIZED GOVERNMENT

To the editor:

It would appear that we are about to take another giant step toward socialized government.

What has happened to good old Yankee ingenuity and the individualism that made this nation what it is? When we are told that we will have national health care whether we want it or not, it sends cold shivers up my spine.

It is the same old story: We are going to develop a massive bureaucratic program that is going to cost the individual untold (and unknown) thousands of dollars. Has any government program ever cost what the original estimates were, or have they ever solved the problems that were its stated purpose?

Perhaps there are some problems with our health care system that does need fixing but they should be addressed in a long, carefully thought out manner that addresses only those specific issues and even that should be done on a trial basis before we are committed to a bureaucratic nightmare that will cost billions and serve few, if any, of the recipients well.

There is absolutely no need to rush through some program in order that our representatives can return to their districts and claim that they have solved the medical needs of all. Having been a lobbyist for many years I have all too often seen legislators state that they didn't like the bill but it was the only thing out there so they had to vote for it. A no vote on a bad, poorly constructed bill is far better than a hold-your-nose yes vote.

Let's stop this rush toward socialism and think long and hard on what the end results of more and more government can do to the "land of the free."

EARLE B. SEARCY

Cape Girardeau