AARP Online Community: AARPKY - Sieze the Opportunity, What It's All About

AARPKY

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Name: AARP

Location:
Louisville, Kentucky
United States

My Websites:
www.aarp.org/ky
www.aarp.org/kyjobs
www.aarp.org/community/groups/AARPKentuckyVolunteers

Quote:
"I, too, am a Kentuckian." Abraham Lincoln - 1861 16th President of the United States Born February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky

My Comments (7)

Sieze the Opportunity, What It's All About

What the Health Care Debate is Really About

(The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the Courier-Journal (10-12-09) from Bill Harned a volunteer member of AARP KY's Executive Council. See related articles on the Courier-Journal website at http://topics.gannett.com/Health+Care+Reform/?template=courier-journal)

Sen. Mitch McConnell is right to be troubled about what health care and prescription drug costs are doing to families and employers budgets. As the health care debate drags on, everyone is getting a little numb from the rhetoric — but the most important days of the whole debate are in the next few weeks. And it's time to remember why we're having this debate in the first place.

It's not about Republicans and Democrats; it's about working people who can't afford health care, the unbelievable increases in health care and drug costs. It's about the fact that other countries are providing better health care for much less money and the idea that surely we can do better. It's about kids getting the health care they need and seniors continue to receive Medicare they deserve. It's about families not having to worry that an illness will send them into bankruptcy or that the loss of a job will end their health insurance coverage.

Those are just a few of the reasons we're in this debate. We've seen the special interest lobbyists digging in to try to derail reform. Politics have taken it over and volume has tried to replace thoughtful and real dialogue. But this issue is too important to give up on — and start over.

I hope all our members of Congress seize this historic opportunity to fix our broken health care system.