Bachus’ three-paragraph reply was a reiteration of his opposition to Obamacare, with only one sentence mentioning his own, and I suppose, the Republican Party’s, viewpoint. It states, “While reforms to our health care system are needed, there are common sense ways to address costs and improve access without putting the government in charge of your personal medical decisions.”
This is not a plan. It gives no specific suggestion for addressing costs and improving access. I am a middle-class person without a great deal of money and with serious ongoing medical issues in my immediate family. Obamacare has already helped me immeasurably by keeping my two young adult children on my insurance until they reach the age of 26. Obamacare also insures that no one can be turned away because of a pre-existing condition and that coverage will not be cut off after certain limits have been reached. How could any middle-class person be so opposed to his or her own best interests as to be opposed to such specific benefits? And please note that the American Medical Association supports Obamacare.
I am deeply concerned that the Republicans have no other agenda than to oppose everything Obama proposes while supporting tax cuts for the rich and the big corporations and never offering any plans on tough issues like health care. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which has a virtual monopoly on health insurance in Alabama, was one of the biggest bankrollers of Republican candidates nationally last year. Without Obamacare, most Alabamians, including me, would be totally at their mercy.
I believe Republicans see access to good, affordable health care as a privilege, not a basic human right. God help us if Antonin Scalia and the other smug, self-righteous, right-wing activists on the Supreme Court throw out Obamacare.
Rufus Kinney
Jacksonville
