It hasn't been that long ago, or has it? I remember it well, the small town we lived in when first married. From the beginning, we had no worry about healthcare. The doctors fees were affordable and the medicine prescribed, also affordable. We paid for our doctor visits and paid for our medicine. Those of us who could not afford to do so had other sources, provided by the community. Do you remember "Health Departments?" Each community had a health department, fully staffed with doctors and nurses. Medicines, vaccinations and good preventative health care were all provided for the poor in our town. These services were paid for by the community in the form of state and local taxes, that citizens were agreeable to. Healthcare was an honorable profession, enjoyed by doctors and nurses, in the healthcare business because they cared about people and wanted to help them. With no mountains of paper work to contend with, they even had time for visiting in patient's homes. Enter the federal government and trial lawyers! I believe most of us know the story, we watched it happen. What we're hearing now is not about the people or caring for them, this is about personal agendas. If the politicians had healthcare in mind for all the people, then why a "Stimulas Package" full of "pork!" The federal government needs to leave the states alone! I say put our money into good Health Departments and let the community run them and take care of themselves. I for one have no desire for some appointed government official, to make decisions concerning my health. I want the old ways back!
