This letter is to thank Senator Thomas Carper for the wonderful work he is doing for the state of Delaware. We would also like Senator Carper to know that we are indeed counting on him to support a strong public option vote in the Senate; and that many of us oppose the idea of letting the states set up their own individual plan which is not only costly, but gives insurance companies too0 much leverage. We need a plan that will allow people the freedom of keeping their option even if they go to another state. It is not a compromise we are seeking; it is inclusion.

I think the Public Option Plan has gotten some "bad press" partially because the name somewhat implies that it is either controlled by the government or it sounds like public assistance. One suggestion would be to re-market this product and develop a more unambiguous public plan that identifies exactly what is to be covered and who benefits. People really need clarity on what they are opting for. I do like the amendment that Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., offered, which I feel would encourage competition and increase our ability to negotiate rates.

Once again, thank you, Senator Carper, for all you do to support the public option and helping to make Delaware truly "The First State."

Shirley G. Caldwell

Member of Move-on Political Org.

Dover

Upon reading in the State News about government-run health care about to be debated on Congress, one can only wonder how many more times the Democrats can come up with a different name for this so-called health care reform. Let’s see now, it started out as the "government-run option," then the "competitive option," and now Nancy Pelosi’s "the consumer option." What’s next, the "people’s choice option," or better yet, "you’re going to take it or else option"? What’s the old saying? "You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!"

I also see where they want to tax health care plans on families above $21,000 a year and also individuals above $8,000 a year. If people can afford these premiums, so what? That’s their business, not the government’s. We’ve got too d**n much government now! I wonder if our U.S. Senate and House members are included in this share-the-wealth scheme. Probably with their "Rolls-Royce" insurance, they will exempt themselves from it. Just another case of "Don’t do as I do, do as I say!"

If you remember recently to Obama’s speech no Congress about not signing any health care plan that costs one dime of taxpayers’ money. He didn’t lie about the dime! It’s only going to cost over a trillion dollars according to the CBO! Now according to Sen. Reid’s and Rep. Pelosi’s figures it’s only going to cost $900 billion! Whoopee! Big savings!

Also, I see they’re going to impose fees (i.e., taxes) on insurance companies, drug companies and employers who must pay a fee (i.e., tax) of $750 per employee. Anybody with common sense (politicians aside) knows this to be a farce. All these so-called fees (i.e., taxes) will just be passed on to the consumer. Hoodwinked again.

In a nutshell, the question remains, who’s going to pay for this government welfare scheme to share the wealth? As they say, "If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then buffalo them with B.S."!

Walter G. McGinnis Jr.

Smyrna

Well Point is an excellent health care insurance company operating nationally. Recently, they surveyed 14 states where they run Blue Cross plans. In all 14 states surveyed, Obama-Care would drive up premiums for small business and individuals who happen to be most of Well Point’s customers.

In one instance, a 25-year-old, healthy male, living in Ohio, who is currently paying $52 per month, would see his premium increased to as much as $157, a 201.9% boost.

How could this be? This would be the result of Obama-Care mandate to provide insurance for everyone who applied — regardless of pre-existing conditions — and at the same premium rate for all. You might call this a redistribution of health care.

Another study reports that Obama-Care will provide approximately one trillion dollars of taxpayer money to less than 2% of health care recipients, many of whom are now served at emergency centers throughout the United States.

Columnist Scott Gottlieb said recently, "It is increasingly clear that the initial impact of Obama’s health care reform will be to raise the cost of health insurance and raise the number of uninsured Americans, perhaps sharply."

It is our opinion that these are gimmicks which will impose a stiff price on us: the taxes and spending cuts will by necessity force the cost of private insurance up immediately, forcing many of us to drop our insurance because of its high cost. Incidentally, those who buy their insurance directly will be hit the hardest.

Individuals who are currently insured through their employers will also face hardships since employers will consider new coverages and may repair to the sidelines.

If these employers choose not to offer coverage to their employees they will have to pay a tax equal to the value of government subsidies to these employees. They might then be forced to follow this plan since it would be less expensive for their companies. Their employees would then be forced into government run programs.

One of the biggest losers in this Comedy of Horrors will be small business. In the past 20 years small business owners have listed health costs as their No. 1 concern. To make matters worse, leading "reform" bills will balloon expenses for firms that offer employee health insurance.

Dan Danner is head of the National Federation of Independent Business. Mr. Danner said, "The reform bills’ huge costs will ultimately come out of the small business owner’s pockets and thereby prohibit them from growing or hiring new employees."

Glenn Beck says, "The flood has just begun." So friends, should we now build an ark, or should we "take arms against this sea of abuses and thereby end them"?

Eighty percent of Americans are happy with their present health care. Will we let a small left-wing liberal minority steal away those precious rights bestowed upon us by our founders and our forefathers? Patrick Henry said, "Forbit it Almighty God!"

Daniel G. Anderson

We who have prayed, worshiped and served in Delaware are heirs to traditions that predate the American Revolution. Based on our experience, we know that one of the strengths of this state and its many communities is the fact that, despite our diverse faith traditions, we are united as a family in believing that health of mind and body are gifts from God. This belief is shared by people of faith across the country and as such, we are all called to care for one another, to provide healing and prevent suffering, just as members of a family care for one another.

Unfortunately, rising health care costs are making it extremely difficult for families in Delaware to survive. During these trouble economic times, when food, housing and utility costs are already straining family budgets, health care costs continue to spin out of control.

Currently, there are 46.3 million Americans, including more than 9 million children, who are living without health insurance. In Delaware, there are about 105,000 persons, about 15.4 percent of the state’s population, who are uninsured and forced to pray every day that they will not become sick or injured.

The sad truth is that these uninsured men, women and children frequently delay medical treatment for too long, even when it is obviously needed, because a visit to the doctor is simply not in the personal or family budget. Too often, our uninsured neighbors are forced to forgo filling prescriptions because of cost and are unable to visit the specialists to which they are referred. Every year, the shocking truth is that some Americans, including some Delawareans, die because they cannot afford vital, necessary medical care.

Faith communities have a long tradition of caring for people who suffer in mind, body and spirit. Delaware is no exception. Clergy advocate for healthier lifestyles from their pulpits and minister to the sick and injured. Parish health ministers, including faith community nurses, help individuals and families to manage their health more effectively. And volunteers with programs like Faith in Action help to assure access to health care services and resources.

These are general comments about the health-related ministries for our faith communities. But churches, synagogues and mosques cannot do this alone. Living without health insurance is a risk that no one in America or Delaware should have to take.

Congress cannot wait any longer to make changes to our current system of health care. As our government has sat idly by over the past few years, the American health care crisis has gotten worse, to the point that a major health-related disaster is imminent. The status quo is simply not a viable or sustainable option. And the cost of failure is economically, socially and morally prohibitive.

Fortunately, much has changed since the last time significant health care reform was debated in the 1990s. There is now consensus among diverse stakeholders that reform is vitally needed and needed soon. There are promising solutions, such as Delaware’s Community Healthcare Access Program, at the state level to draw upon as models. And, above all, there is a national focus on the need for positive and definitive action. The time is ripe for comprehensive, bipartisan health care reform, and Congress must act to make it a reality.

That is why we are joining together, as representatives of the faith communities of the state of Delaware, and thousands of brothers and sisters, people of faith and goodwill all, to present the need for comprehensive health care reform. It is time for our nation’s leaders to work together to assure quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

The Rev. Stephen Ackerman, pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

The Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner Ball, conference resource director, The United Methodist Church

The Rev. Sylvester Beaman, pastor, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. James Bimbi, rector, St. James Episcopal Church

Alice Davis, elder, Hanover Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Dr. Elisa Diller, pastor, Christiana Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Robert Hall, executive director, Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families, and pastor, Salem United Methodist Church

The Rev. John Holden, pastor, Mount Salem United Methodist Church

The Rev. Jennifer Kerby, pastor, Mount Lebnaon United Methodist Church

The Rev. Tracey Mooney, pastor, Peniel United Methodist Church

The Rev. Dr. James Mosley, executive presbyter, New Castle Presbytery

Anne Murray, parish nurse, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

LaVaida Owens White, facilitator, Delaware Region Health Ministries Network, and parish nurse, Christ Our King Roman Catholic Church

The Rev. Tom Pasmore, pastor, Richardson Park United Methodist Church

The Rev. John Ranney, director of public policy, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

As the Congress ponders their many strange issues, let me ask one simple question. Where in the Constitution was Congress granted the power to force people to buy health insurance and punish them with a punitive tax if they were unwilling or unable to pay it? This sounds like a "Debtors Prison" of long, long ago.

Human Events editor-at-large Terrence Jeffrey makes the point that broccoli may be good for our health, but can Congress make us buy it? Of course not! Even if any of this were constitutional, which it isn’t, it is in fact pure fantasy. Americans will never buy it.

Another issue, to add insult to injury, on behalf of our illustrious Administration, Nancy Pelosi has falsely accused private insurers of making "immoral profits" when, in fact, their profit margins shrank to 2.2% last year (Associated Press report). So they are excoriating those very companies that have provided us with such admirable services for only a meager profit!

Steve Forbes has suggested that House Energy/Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and his gang "are openly engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation against 52 of America’s largest health insurance providers and that they seek nothing less than to silence all voices opposed to government-run health care."

Obamacare cares little for those unbearable costs and inefficiencies of their proposed programs. This is simply a rank and raw grab for control of one-sixth of our economy. Already they virtually control the banks and a once-private auto industry. What do you suppose is next, a completely socialistic state?

Our founding fathers had no such fantasies. Shortly before our Revolution, American patriot Patrick Henry stood in Virginia’s State Assembly to say, "Is life so sweet or peace so dear as to be purchased for the price of chains and freedom? Forbid it Almighty God!

Dear friends, let us all stand and put down this rotten abuse! Let us now fight fr freedom in our choice of health care, broccoli and, by the way, Democracy!

Daniel G. Anderson