As soon as I knew big insurance companies were solidly against true health care reform i knew it was a good thing for the American people. Requiring consumers to buy health care without the public option - Medicare for all - merely plays right into big health insurance companies' hands. They would still have no incentive to reduce premiums, nor would they have any need to carry insurers who become too 'costly to cover' - read catastropic illness or cover people with pre-existing conditions.

Whenever it's good for big business - period: big oil, big coal, big pharmaceuticals, big health insurance company, then it cannot, by definition, be good for the American citizen.

And what does this have to do with a women's right to choose? Why is any health care bill being highjacked by the anti-choice groups?

Sandra Armstrong

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Well, another diatribe about ,"big business." Or more specifically about "big," oil, coal, pharmaceuticals and insurance companies.

I am certain this is the same type of person who complains about the cost of energy and then protests against nuclear plant construction.

Or the same type of person who complains about paying $2.50 a gallon for gas and then goes in the store and either buys a cup of coffee for $1.89 or a bottle of water for $1.39. Have you ever figured out what the coffee and water cost per gallon?

Or the same type of person who complains about the, "evil," drug companies and then goes home and takes her medications that keep her alive. Or the medications that keep her parents or grandparents alive.

Or the same type of person who complains about the high premiums for health insurance. Well, if you think the insurance companies are ripping you off, you can always cancel your coverage and self-insure yourself. And one other thing, the people who purchase health insurance are the "insured," not the insurers.

Do we not require economics in Tennessee high schools?

Douglas Jones
North Chattanooga

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If so-called health care reform is so good for Americans then why has Congress voted to exempt themselves from the very law they are forcing down our throats? There must be something very wrong with this bill if Congress and the President are not participating in the "reform" they dictate for the rest of us.

William Bryant

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Mr Jones,

Opinions posted here are just that. No one attaches a resume or list of qualifications to support their writing. I began in health care in 1975, and I know what was happening then. I worked from staff to management to technical/ administrative support (which included accounting, common purchasing, contracts for services,education, JCAHO in-house survey teams, product review, large equipment and service contracts, and dealing with drug companies, etc., etc.) and back down the ladder to staff by 2005.

I was married to someone who has worked with a large local insurance company since 1976. To know the 'inside' workings of corporations is to understand that they are simply in business to make money. The more money the better, right? It is not considered gouging as long as the 'customer' is willing to pay, right? If you market products that the public is required by law to use, you are really set up for profit, right?

If everyone (patients, insured, etc) knew all of the details of where their dollars go within the insurance, drug, and banking corporations, there would be no need for the government to induce reforms. The enraged public--customers--would handle it. We have been shown just a glimpse into the greed that sucks the life out of our nation.

Yesterday I received a notice from a credit card company I use. My history with them is perfect. They were notifying me that my interest rate was increasing from 18% to 29% and that I will be paying an annual fee, which they will add in increments to my monthly charges.

This is why the big three banking corporations that met with Obama months ago were reported to have exited the meeting smiling. They reported later that they would make changes in customers accounts to 'recover' any potential money they would lose through the actions of the government. Big business, pure greed.

Ted Ladd