HEALTHCARE: A painful gap

Don’t we all just love it when the well-to-do (Republicans) rave on about how good it is to be able to get the best health care? Do they ever think that the average American can barely afford the cost of even moderately affordable health care?

Someone whose 91-year-old father takes fishing trips to Alaska and cruises in the Indian Ocean probably doesn’t mind forking out $10,000 a year or more for the best medical insurance in the world. Most people on fixed incomes who are retired are lucky to be able to afford Part B Medicare and a lot pray that they can get by only with Part A. The few who pay for a supplemental policy mostly have to do without something else and buy cheaper food, pay less rent, drive older cars and even buy used clothing.

So you bellyaching, whining, right wing conservatives have no idea what it costs for elderly people who’ve worked all their lives and don’t get welfare or subsidies and still rely on their pensions and Social Security and try to live a moderate, good life without fishing trips or cruises.

Cry all you want when you go to the polls this November and I’ll lend you my Goodwill hanky.

PAUL J. UNDERWOOD

St. Maries