About time for health care reform

Although the current health reform law may not be perfect in every way, it is a huge step in the right direction for a country that until recently was the only modernized country to not have a comprehensive national health plan to ensure all citizens have access to affordable and reliable coverage. It may not be perfect but it does: eliminate all of the abusive insurance practices, cuts the deficit and pays for itself according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, and ensures that coverage is affordable and reliable for every American regardless of whether they have won the lottery of good or bad health in their lifetime.

Finally, it puts a focus on preventive care rather than waiting until health goes bad and then expensive to cure. What a fascinating concept that has been way too late in coming. The only sad part about all this is that Republicans in Congress are still trying to repeal this bill.

Perhaps this bill would have been even better if Republicans had made a legitimate effort at reform instead of dragging their feet. I know they claim they were trying to provide input; however, it sure seems hard to believe they were sincerely trying when they are making up silly stories of death panels on the floor of Congress and did absolutely nothing of significance for reform during the many years they controlled Congress and the White House together.

Health care reform - about time! Maybe now we will no longer be below the top 30 countries in the world for health care.

Rick Sherman

Gilberts