This letter ran in The Ellsworth American on Oct. 4 and Penobscot Bay Press on Oct. 1.
To the Editor:
I think I speak for many when I say that as I continue to age, I require more encounters with our healthcare system.
It becomes more than academic for me now. Yes, I used to speak of our need for a single payer healthcare system plan in the U.S. I reminded people I knew about the fact that we are the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn’t provide healthcare for its citizens. And I participated in organizations and committees volunteering to encourage my political representatives to make the changes needed to bring about that end. Was it all for nothing? Now that I truly need healthcare where am I?
Our Maine hospitals are cutting departments or even closing down for various reasons – Medicaid cuts, nurse shortages, you name it. Nursing homes, birthing centers and even local medical practices, especially in our more rural areas, are suffering as well. Why? We read about this crisis almost every day in our newspapers. And we hear many explanations. In short, our health care system is a mess. OK, so now what?
I have friends who have looked for solutions – everything from alternative medicine locally to traveling to specialized treatment centers in other states and even accessing eye surgeries, dental care and joint replacements in other countries. I’m not likely to do any of these things. I’m simply hoping for my government to make the necessary changes needed to bring about adequate healthcare for all of us.
One thing I do know – the government we have now won’t come to my aid. I hope my fellow citizens will come to the polls in November and vote to make the necessary changes in governmental leadership. I believe the only hope for the changes we need will come under a government led by Democrats. Vote for Democrats.
Betsy Braunhut
Sunset