I have read many interesting letters from people in support of a national or socialistic healthcare plan. One has to ponder, what would the Founders want? Interestingly enough we know what they wanted. We can look to our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for guidance.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government”

I support Adam Putnam’s stance on the healthcare issue. He has stated in another area newspaper that he supports a “Free Market System”. I believe the founders would support his position as well.

What is it going to take for people to start realizing that the Government is not the answer to our problems? Government overstepping its boundaries is the problem. When we stop taking planks from the Communist Manifesto and applying them to our lives our society will begin to heal!

It is pointless to call the current measure Health Care Reform. When has Government involvement in the Private Sector ever made anything more efficient or cost effective? I believe this Reform move is more of a power grab that will haunt future generations of Americans.

MELBOURNE, FL – Today Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) hosted a roundtable discussion with constituents and local health care experts to listen to their concerns and ideas as Congress begins consideration of health care legislation in the coming weeks. Some Congressional leaders have already drafted legislation, but details like the overall cost of their proposals, the degree to which individuals will have control over their benefits, and ways to pay for the reforms have yet to be flushed out.

“The first step is to listen to what folks like and don’t like about their current health plans,” said Congressman Posey. “There are several bills currently floating around Congress, but the process needs to involve individuals who will be impacted the most by reform efforts being drafted by politicians in Washington.”

Thursday’s roundtable discussion brought together representatives from 13 local health care organizations including Health First, Wuesthoff, Physician’s Assistant Associates, MIMA, AARP, Congregations for Community Action, Brevard County Health Department, Pediatrics of Brevard, Brevard Health Care Alliance, Brevard County Medical Society, and constituents from the surrounding community.

House Majority leaders recently put forward a proposal for a government plan which relies heavily on tax increases on small businesses, limited choices and the creation dozens of new entitlement programs. Three other plans have been offered in the U.S. Senate by three different Committee Chairmen as well.

In the past, the House has approved Small Business Association Health Care plans – 6 times in the last 7 years – but special interests have exerted enough pressure to block the idea in the Senate. Association Health Plans allow small businesses owners to pool their resources together with other members of their respective trade associations across the nation to create a larger pool. The larger pool can be used to buy health care in bulk, bringing down the cost much like the way the federal government offers health insurance plans.

Posey said he has already gotten a lot of feedback from his constituents, many of whom like their currents plans and want to keep them. Others say they want to be sure that they can continue to choose their own physicians and the benefits that their plan includes; or that they like their current plan but need some help paying some of the cost. Some seniors say they are worried Congress will eliminate the Medicare Advantage program to pay for new reform proposals. In the 15^thCongressional district more than 40,000 seniors have chosen to enroll in a Medicare Advantage health plan.

“There are several fundamental principles that are going to guide me as we move forward with any health care reform legislation,” said Posey. “First, do no harm – every American should be able to keep their current plan, today and tomorrow. Second, I will not vote for any bill in its final form that I have not been given proper time to read and evaluate.”

Posey added that he wanted to hear from constituents on this issue and folks can contact him through his website www.posey.house.gov.

In response to the Interview/ Town Hall Meeting on ABC last night, I thought the President made an excellent argument for his plan. He explained where 2/3 of the money would come from and where the additional 1/3 would come from. The existing 2/3 is already being spent on programs that are not working.

This is not a replacement of the existing infrastructure it is an addition for those that are not covered by current Insurance. The Insurance Industry has gone crazy and I am living proof. Several years ago, Blue Cross Blue Shield dropped me like a hot potato, even though my premiums were paid. I spoke with Tom Gallagher who was Insurance Commissioner at the time and he told me, they would get me my premiums back but he couldn’t do anything to them even though they violated the Law because they did not want them to pull out of Florida because of our elderly population.

I am here to tell you that they discriminate, drop you for no reason, exclude you if you have a pre-existing condition, and go up on premiums for no justifiable reason. I am glad the President is making an option available for those who are un-insured or underinsured, which is largely small business owners who work very hard to pay in taxes for those to receive Medicaid, etc, that they can not receive because they make too much money.

I am a conservative but I think it is about time for hard working Americans to be able to receive the same benefits as the Rich and the Poor. The middle class has been abused for far too long. Those of you, who disagree with me and say this is socialism, well let me educate you. Stop driving on roads, stop going to Libraries, stop going to parks, stop calling EMS-Police-or Fire, stop sending your kids to Public Schools. You know why, it is socialized. Ohhhhh, everyone is so afraid of an additional National Health Care Plan because it may be Socialized, then go to your local Commission meeting and tell the County to stop funding all of the Socialized things you use with everybody else’s money.

I don’t go to Parks, but I still pay for them. I don’t go to Libraries, but I still pay for them.

I do drive on the roads and road maintenance does a great job, so you get the point. An additional National Health Care Plan is not going to hurt you. They had the same arguments about Medicare and how many of you are going to refuse it at 65?

Give this plan a chance I think most people will be glad they did. Sorry George Bush didn’t come up with it for you but just remember this, he signed the 700 billion dollar bail out as well. This is not a Party issue, this is an American Issue. We all are forced to get an education in this Country; we should be able to see a Doctor as well.

Jim Brown

Conservative Citizen and Blog Contributor