Viewer Mail: Health Care Bill

Delivered by Chuck Stokes, Editorial Director

Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a sweeping health care bill, the vigorous debate moves to the U.S. Senate. But viewer reaction before and after the controversial vote is wide ranging.

One resident of Southeast Michigan calls the bill:

“Nineteen hundred pages of socialist garbage…. It’s going to be the biggest train wreck in history.”
- E7uscg

Another viewer writes:

“Our present system is not perfect but it can be fixed without gutting the whole system….”
- Jerwig

Our next letter writer agrees and offers this suggestion:

“Start by fixing Medicare and Medicaid. It makes no sense to me why the government would even want to run a health care program.”
- Khardng

And there was this message:

“This is yet another example of our liberties being usurped by a totalitarian state.”
- Mjaran

This next e-mail was very succinct:

“Total tax increase: $729.5 billion!”
- Doodles

But those supporting the health care bill are equally passionate.  One Michigander writes:

“My premiums are going up $100 a month next year and I didn’t get a raise in my pension.”
- Th1769

Another one says:

“Cut medical costs and insurance premiums. Avoid the lobbyists….”
- MI4Hire

A viewer name Dean sent us this message:

“…The true cost of health care is dictated by the providers.”
- Dean48089

Wayne P. writes:

“It is just obscene that we allow these profit-making businesses to hold our very lives captive to their greed.”
- Wayne P.

And finally, we received this e-mail:

“There are 47 million people without health care coverage. It will cost far less to provide them coverage on the front end…than to use the emergency room as their care provider.”
- Tawjr

Obviously, there’s a lot at stake riding on this bill and we encourage you to keep sharing your opinions with us at WXYZ.com.
Broadcast: November 11 - 14, 2009