Citizens tell Baucus to deliver real reform
Staffers for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus got an earful last week at public meetings organized by the
senator to talk about health care reform, and one message came through loud and clear.
The people were demanding:
    "Give us reform . . . .
    "Do something that solves the problems . . . .
    "Do something that will control costs  . . . .
    "Don't give us an industry-friendly reform that may make things even worse . . .

OPINION: Not once did anyone mention "do something for yourself" and take responsibility for your
own health. We are always looking somewhere else for a silver bullet  Here's just one small
example, but it makes a point.

The photo's below were taken during this years Memorial Day parade in Plentywood, MT. The first
photo is the Plentywood High School Marching Band - riding on a flatbed trailer. Average age, about
16. Following them was the Bagpipe Marching band from Canada. Average age, around 70. Parade
length - about 5 blocks.
Our health care system is ranked 37th by the World Health Organization, just slightly ahead of
Slovenia. The US spends by far the most money per person on health care than any other country.
Why are we getting so little return on so much money spent? One is because of the corrupt system
we have in place. Our politicians are financed by a well healed special interest lobbying effort of the
health insurance and pharmaceutical companies  They are the reason they [politicians] are in office
and they are not about to cut off the hand that feeds them. The "me" first syndrome.

It's just like the price of gas. If we insist on driving gas guzzlers and drive everywhere, the oil industry
is very happy to keep our stupidity fueled.

Same for our health. If we eat garbage and can't walk a few blocks we only have ourselves to blame.
We either get off our ass and take control of our life, or quit complaining about how the system
sucks, sit back, shut-up and pay.
What's Your Opinion?
Comments
I thought you made a great point in pictures with the two photos of the bands… one riding and one marching.  It’s true, we are so car-
centric in America, lots of people just don’t walk much.

August Uhl
Bozeman, MT
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