Proponents of national health insurance and the liberal media have done a good job of misleading the public to promote their socialistic agenda.

From the beginning, national health insurance was labeled national health care. By doing this, they were able to make the outrageous claim that millions of Americans do not have health care. Since no American wants to see anyone go without health care, emotions take over, and rational thinking is set aside.

In actuality, very few if any, Americans go without health care. Many people have insurance. Others are on Medicaid or Medicare. Some states, such as Iowa, have a state plan for children whose parents can’t afford insurance. Most doctors and other health care providers have an indigent fund built into their budget. It is against the law for any health care provider to deny emergency care to any American.

Everybody knows that health care is expensive, but national health insurance is not the answer. Most people also realize that when the government gets involved, the cost goes up.

If national health insurance becomes a reality, and it looks like it will, the shortage of doctors will become more critical. It is also highly possible that the number of patients will increase because the care will be free, and many people will go to the doctor for every little problem. These two aspects alone make national health care a bad idea.

Our health care system is far from prefect, but it is better than socialized medicine. Tort reform, preventive medicine, living a healthy lifestyle and having doctors be doctors instead of “pill pushers” would lower health care costs considerably.

For the people that have bought into the national health care misrepresentation, remember, “Be careful what you wish for as you might get your wish.” Also remember, that what starts as a lie is probably a lie throughout.

Frank Parsons

Ottumwa