LWV health forum good, but hijacked
Regarding the Kari Thies letter Aug. 3 about the Healthcare Forum held by the League of Women Voters at the Palatine Library, I too was there, but see no need to call it a "poorly held, controlled meeting necessitating a stream of negative adjectives." The three panelists were great, knowledgeable and armed with statistics everybody should know.
About the Q&A time: Well, certain individuals were not prepared with a question, just wanted to keep on with their own opinion as to why there should be no health care reform, taking up so much of other people's time so they couldn't ask a question.
That's one way to dominate a meeting. They had to be reminded many times with "What's your question?" There only was a half-hour for that.
If these folks have good health insurance and can afford the high premiums and deductibles, great, they can keep it. Nobody will force them into something else.
I should be the one complaining because I couldn't get my question in edgewise. People wanted to learn about the changes in the new program, not rehash the old programs that are leaving them bankrupt. I just about had enough hearing the following propaganda phrases:
• "Rationed Healthcare." What do they think we have now? I could give enough examples of claims and care denied, especially by HMOs.
• "Canadians have to wait too long for a necessary operation." I doubt it, unless you want a nose job.
• "Socialized Medicine." Ooh, it's the boogeyman in the closet, have to be scared!
Nobody is proposing that government own all the hospitals/clinics in the country and that all doctors work for the government. It does not want to be in the hospital business any more than in the car business.
The League of Women Voters is a fair and valued organization. As to the Q&A portion of the meeting, next time have your question ready ahead of time, so you don't have to rehash the old clichés. As Sgt. Webb said in his TV show: "Just the facts, Ma'am, just the facts."
Liesel Knudsen
Arlington Heights