In December 2012, the United Nations updated its resolution on Global Health and Foreign Policy and recognized, again, “the responsibility of Governments to urgently and significantly scale up efforts to accelerate the transition towards universal access to affordable and quality health-care services.”
Do you know which is the only industrialized country that does not recognize this responsibility? Hint: it also happens to be the richest country in the world.
It is no surprise that Rep. Scott Tipton and Sen. Cory Gardner are adamantly opposed to Universal Healthcare. Sadly, even Michael Bennet says “now is not the time”. He’s right: the time was years ago, before “big pharma” and insurance became the top two most powerful lobbies in this country.
In a recent letter to the editor, (Herald, Dec. 2), a Bayfield resident wrote: “If there is something the industry cannot abide, it is someone who speaks the truth about them.” He was referring to the oil and gas industry, but it is such a relevant statement that I repeat it here, applying to the medical industry whose profits soar whether we are healthy or sick.
Meanwhile our “representatives” in Congress represent the interests of industry instead of representing the health of ‘We The People.’ Perhaps if they had to pay for insurance like we do, and lost it when they left Congress, they would feel differently.
There were hundreds of rallies around the world on Dec. 12, and five at noon in Colorado. Let your “representatives” know how you feel!
Laurie Costello, MD
Durango
