Local Democrats want public option

We are a caring country and are among the first to respond to disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes with money and time. How can we continue to ignore so many of our fellow citizens who don't have insurance and can't afford health care?

We, the collective citizens of this great country, have a moral obligation to make health care available to everyone. How can we stand by and allow 45,000 people to die every year because they have no health insurance so they don't seek medical attention until the situation is dire? How can we stand by and let responsible people who work and have insurance be forced to file bankruptcy because their insurance did not cover a major illness?

Sadly, 60 percent of people who declare bankruptcy do so as a result of a catastrophic illness and 75 percent of those people had insurance when their illness hit.

These numbers will only go up given the current economic situation and the number of our neighbors and friends who have lost their jobs and possibly their health insurance. And, selfishly, it's safer for us if people with serious communicable diseases get health care.

These are just some of the reasons the Dundee Township Democratic Central Committee supports a robust and strong public option in the health insurance reform being discussed in Congress. A strong public option will help us take care of each other and give for-profit insurance companies much needed competition.

Dave Reece, Chairman

Algonquin

Judy Gallagher, Treasurer

Carpentersville

Shelley Puckett, Secretary

Sleepy Hollow

Kaye Gamble, Vice Chairman

Sleepy Hollow