Health care at root of problems

Despite an overwhelming demand for health-care reform from people, Democrats and Republicans, Congressman Kirk has all but avoided discussion of health-care reform in the public arena.

In an Economic Recovery Hearing last November, the congressman presented 10 proposals to double the size of the U.S. economy. The congressman's major proposals range from stopping payment on entitlement programs, such as unemployment, limiting individuals' right to sue, to lowering the top tax rate.

Congressman Kirk's idea for health care is to reduce obesity and smoking rates to reduce health-care costs. There is no mention that insurance company profits have climbed 300 percent while the number of those insured is falling, or increasing premiums while denying payment for medical procedures. Millions of Americans are willing to pay for health coverage, but are denied due to pre-existing conditions, and small businesses are being choked by escalating costs of providing health care for their employees.

Our health-care system's failings are both cause and effect in the current recession. Medical debt causes 2.2 million personal bankruptcies a year even while three-fourths of those bankrupted had health insurance. Medical crises contributed to half of all home foreclosures. With every 1 percentage point increase in unemployment, 1.1 million Americans become uninsured.

There is no mention in Congressman Kirk's proposals of how to resolve this conundrum, slow the rate of foreclosure and improve our economic future.

Congressman Kirk, it is time to take a stand on health care for your constituents. There is hardly an American who is untouched by the health-care crisis, whether through a loved one, neighbor or co-worker.

We need leadership that listens to the American people about their immediate and long-term needs. What we don't need is a recycled Bush agenda leaving the American worker to fend for himself.

Dr. Richard L. Keller

Waukegan