Because I am of the opinion that our country is desperately in need of change regarding the provision of health care to our citizens, I attended the Health Care Reform rally in Lincoln Park July 28. My husband and I are small business owners who feel morally obligated to pay the premiums of health insurance coverage for our 12 employees. We wish we could provide paid coverage for their families as well, but our existing monthly premium is already more than we can bear as a business. Every month we struggle to make the payment for a minimal coverage policy with large deductibles and co-pays that, at least, provides some help toward larger health problems.

A group of people in opposition to Health Care Reform was also gathered in Lincoln Park yesterday, in response to our grassroots rally. They were a rowdy crowd, so I looked over at them from time to time. I was amazed to see people carrying signs that said the United States provides the best health care in the world. Maybe I am naive to think that people might actually check out their facts before carrying such signs. All it takes is a quick read of any number of studies that have been done by the World Health Organization and others to know that the United States is far from being number one in the provision of quality health care, and the only competition the United States can currently win regarding health care is that we have most expensive health care system in the world. Not the best, but the most costly.

We can’t make things better by ignoring the facts, and we can’t make things better by acting like deer caught in the headlights of the health insurance industry. We must admit we have a corrupt system that puts dollars ahead of the lives of our families and work to change that system. I believe we can do this. And as an individual and a small business owner I will continue to work to achieve a universal and affordable health care system the United States can be proud of — one that will move us from the bottom of the rankings to, truly, the best in the world.

CYNDI CLARK
Grand Junction

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