Las Vegas Sun

November 23, 2009

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Letter to the editor:

Americans must be responsible for own health

Ronald R. Mercer, Bullhead City, Ariz.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Americans are leaders. Americans are not afraid of a challenge and they don’t give up. Americans are also logical and capable of sound decisions. So why are we so obediently capitulating to the health care establishment? Why do we so willingly buy the corporate lines?

Take charge of your own health care, America. Quit buying the caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, sugar products and drugs (legal and illegal). Quit supporting the snake-oil pharmaceuticals by buying every dog-and-pony TV ad. Do your health homework. Quit the heavy reliance on professionals. Cut down on the animal products. Replace sugar with fruit. Eat more vegetables. Drink more water. Plant a garden.

Have we any idea how much of our poor health is corporate-sponsored? Take another look at the rows of junk food/drink in our supermarkets.

Health care isn’t rocket science. It’s a matter of proactive behavior and personal responsibility. Are we going to wait for the government or corporations to heal us? How many more lifetimes of sickness must pass?

America’s history has taught one lesson. If you want a job done right, you do it yourself. Health care is 95 percent do-it-yourself. Professionals get a 5 percent cut. That’s plenty.

America, take a healthy dose of self reliance. Lighten it up and pick it up. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

  1. By Future
    11/4/09 at 2:33 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    "Take charge of your own health care....."

    You will have to because -

    On October 30, 2009, Nancy Pelosi announced her 2% solution.

    That is right Nancy has a Health Insurance bill with a public option that will only cover 2% of the people and it costs just 1.2 trillion dollars.

    On 10-14 the lowball Baucus Health Insurance Reform bill for just under a trillion dollars does not cover 29 million people.

    So for just 1.2 trillion dollars we are getting:
    - 98% of the people NOT covered by the public option
    - 29 million not covered by health insurance
    - $580 billion taken away from senior's Medicare
    - $280 billion not paid to Doctors for services rendered
    - it does not include tort reform
    - it does not allow plans to cross state lines
    - it does not reduce the cost of healthcare providers
    - It does not have a enforceable Individual mandate
    - It does not allow for catastrophic" healthcare policies.
    - It does not preclude cost shifting where one plans pricing power gets a lower rate than other less powerful private insurers.
    - It does not impose tort reform to reduce defensive medicine.

    This bill is the "BAIT" in the Democrats "bait and switch" medical operation, it only attempts to squeeze the cost of the program administrators by replacing private workers with public government workers.

  2. By LarryVegas
    11/4/09 at 10:23 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    My health is my business and I don't want anyone telling me I can't have my morning coffee, my afternoon beers, my glass or two of wine at supper and a shot or two at bedtime.

    I have my own health insurance, decent amount of life insurance and my family would probably be better off if I was gone.

    So, stay out of my business and I will stay out of yours...

  3. By zippert1
    11/4/09 at 10:58 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Many people do what Mr. Mercer advocates. They still get sick and die. No getting around medical bills.

  4. By NLV-Indep13
    11/4/09 at 1:34 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Death, taxes & medical bills may be unavoidable, but one walk through a casino and you know we could do a lot better with our lifestyle choices. I wonder how many of those clearly overweight people propped up on a stool in front of slot machine, with a cigarette in one hand a drink in the other, already have or will come looking for Uncle Sam to pick up their medical bills when their lack of responsibility & foresight finally catches up with them?

  5. By Phargo
    11/4/09 at 1:43 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Can't afford Health insurance? Sell your tattoos.

  6. By jlb101
    11/4/09 at 2:24 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    The country has been taken over by the parasite class. Parasites need somebody to feed on because they cannot take care of themselves.

  7. By zippert1
    11/4/09 at 4:28 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    nlv-indep13- everyone of them and 300 million others. The taxpayer currently pays almost 80% of all hospital bills. Might as well belly up to the slot machine so we get our share. just kidding

  8. By teamster
    11/5/09 at 12:47 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Only smart people take care of themselves.
    Only dumb people abuse themselves and like
    to say it's their right.

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