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December 1, 2009

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Letter: Universal health care, pensions are needed

Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 | 9:05 a.m.

Compare that to the botched system we have, where the only people with guaranteed retirement and health benefits are government workers and corporate executives. We pay double the cost for health insurance as these other countries, and still 48.5 million Americans aren't insured, and that figure will rise to over 53 million in 2006. And the number of retirees facing bleak futures keeps rising as the pensions they counted on are often abandoned by their companies facing bankruptcy.

It's a failed system, and we should at least consider changing to a system similar to the other modern nations. It doesn't have to happen overnight, but start with universal health care, so all Americans can get the care they need, and then work on a government retirement plan that will guarantee a high enough payment to all retirees so they can live out their lives in proper fashion. The alternative is hordes of our seniors living in abject poverty, with no assurance of health care.

RICHARD J. MUNDY

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