Shame on those trying to sink reform efforts

Patricia van Betten, Blue Diamond

Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

In 1993 the White House initiated a public policy debate on health care in Washington, and I was fortunate to be one of several nurses from Nevada who attended.

The facts stated then are still painfully true today. This is just a sampling:

• We cannot reduce the deficit without health care reform.

• Middle-class American workers fear loss of their health insurance.

• Health care costs are out of control.

The prophets of doom at that time had a strategy to delay reform until it died. They worked to scare and alienate people. At that time it was reported that at least 750 special-interest groups would protect their golden goose at any cost.

The big money behind the Harry and Louise commercials was a major factor in the defeat of the plan to reform health care in the Clinton administration. But, alas, as one cartoonist recently portrayed, Harry and Louise are no more — their health insurance deemed them uninsurable because of preexisting conditions.

We still need reform and the destructive strategies continue.

How many of our members of Congress have obligations to the health insurance industry right now?

How many members of Congress, sitting pretty with federal health insurance that we pay for, have the guts to look the uninsured or underinsured American in the eye and say there is no problem?

How many of those members of Congress, determined to weaken or destroy efforts for health care reform, can honestly look in the mirror and ask: “Have I done the right thing?”

Shame on those elected officials who deliberately create and perpetuate false information in an effort to weaken support for health care reform.