Dear Editor,

The recent onslaught of letters regarding reforms prompted me to share some thoughts of my own.

One writer suggested that everyone in the Hill Country should have health insurance and be free of the worries that illness may cause. We can all agree with that. Perhaps everyone who can should adopt an uninsured individual or family to relieve their suffering. Where we disagree is that he appears to be suggesting that we send the government agents out to take the earnings from working people by force and spread it around to those who need it more. This is the preferred method of the looting class. A third party spending other peoples’ money has never relieved my conscience, nor removed any guilt to right any wrong for which I felt responsibility.

Another suggested that senior citizens, who objected to this program, give up their Medicare and Social Security. Since payments to both were taken from me by force for over 50 years, I feel no guilt in receiving those benefits. However, like one of the other writers, I receive insurance benefits the same as that available to the Congress. This insurance is also available to any citizen; simply call Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Texas. Upon retirement, I called to inform the government that I would not need Medicare. The full force of Government was turned on me to let me know that the choice was not mine to make and, if I persisted, the financial penalties would be severe. Beware, if you attempt this route.

Much publicity has been given to the 47 million uninsured, but few have noted the census data on the breakdown of the kind of people included in that number. Today’s news reports that Texas is number 1 in the nation on the number of uninsured persons. A look at the numbers will explain why:

Americans without other affordable options - 12 million; Illegal immigrants - 5.2 million; Legal immigrants - 5 million; Earning more than $75 thousand per year - 7 million; Currently eligible for other government programs - 2.7 million; Eligible for employer-sponsored insurance - 6 million

President Obama in his speech to Congress stopped counting the 10.2 million immigrants, announcing that they would not be eligible for government insurance. It is worth noting that in the only bill that passed the Congress, this is true. But, in the usual doublespeak of our legislature, they refused to allow health care providers to ask any patient if they were citizens. This is like prohibiting those under 21 to smoke or drink liquor, but barring the servers from requiring identification to prove their age. Based on this data, it would appear that we have a problem affecting 12 million persons. Yet the programs put forth from Washington want to destroy the insurance programs of approximately 300 million in order to gain control of the entire health program, just to satisfy their lust for power.

Recent polls show that 87% of the population is satisfied with their health care, a solution in search of a problem.

Another area that deserves consideration is the problem of pre-existing conditions; that, many think, is an unreasonable requirement and I can empathize with this, although if we are to correct it, why not go all the way. We could allow people to wait until they have an auto accident to buy car insurance, wait until your house burns down for fire coverage. I have mixed feelings about life insurance but forcing insurance companies to sell insurance until death is reasonably certain would not seem unreasonable. These provisions would certainly close any private insurance companies, but so what. The government could cover all losses, until the tax burden on the few people working and paying taxes would give it up and we could start over, since the country would be bankrupt.

One writer suggested that health care is a right. I have searched diligently and have been unable to find any source for this right or the right to own a house. The Declaration of Independence says that we have a right to “Life, Liberty and the PURSUIT of Happiness.” Hopefully it is a fruitful pursuit, but no guarantees.

Finally, the hardest question, “What would Jesus do”? It would be presumptuous of me to speak for him, but in my unlearned interpretation of scripture I believe he would urge his followers to heal the sick, give alms to the poor, and provide shelter to the homeless. What he would not do would be to appeal to Caesar to send his legions out among the workers and take by force that which they had earned.

Jim Hokkanen

Blanco, TX