Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Says profit-motive ruining healthcare

I have worked in healthcare for 30 years. Years ago most hospitals were nonprofit, most insurance was nonprofit, physicians were well paid but we did not have specialists making hundreds of thousands or even millions.

Then Wall Street discovered another golden cow. Just as Wall Street has tried take over most other industries, the corporate types bought hospitals, insurance companies, even physician practices. What was a nonprofit care industry became a vehicle for profit, big bonuses and the like.

We have seen this in banking, in real estate, etc. And now we have seen what happens when it goes bad. I believe we could wake up one morning and find our insurance companies are broke and we have no coverage. Believe me it could happen.

And then we will all say, what happened? How could our government let this happen? Who is to blame?

Well, before this happens we need to find elected representatives who will stand up now, before it all goes the way of the banks. I believe healthcare is just not something that should be run by speculative, for-profit corporations.

So, we need to work with the president to fix healthcare now, before it is too late.

Karl Kleeman

Bellingham