Letters to the editor: If other nations can have affordable health care, so can we

If other nations can have affordable health care, so can we
One big problem with our health system is the profit motive of health insurance companies.

They are in business to make money, and they do not make money on sick people. They do everything they can to keep them off their policies. The ironic thing is that it is sick people who need health care.

I hear some healthy people say they are paying up to $1,000 per month for health insurance.

Did you know that the insurance companies skim around 33 percent of the cost of insurance to pay for overhead which includes paying their CEOs, advertising, paying their investors and paying people to exclude coverage for everything and everyone they possibly can.

It is distressing to me to hear of proposals that will require everyone to choose policies from these hundreds of insurance companies.

What a boon to them! Some regulations are proposed to require them to accept any applicant. How will that cut costs?

A public choice similar to Medicare would seem prudent.

It is disturbing to me to hear private companies howl against a public option when all of these last few years free market supporters have preached the efficiency of private industry in relation to government programs.

Medicare and VA run at two to four percent overhead and provide good care. I question whether private insurance companies can be the answer to effective health insurance reform.

I am happy to see the support of the AMA to reform health insurance.

They support expanding coverage to all, to eliminate denials for preexisting conditions, to include prevention and wellness initiatives, to address medical liability reform and to fix the broken Medicare physician payment system.

Everyone should be able to have affordable health care.

If other countries can do it, so can we.

Marilyn Garrett
Opelika

Statewide historic preservation conference coming to Auburn
Mark your calendars now! Auburn will host a statewide historic preservation conference titled “Building Partners for Preservation,” Oct. 8-10. Sponsors are the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Black Heritage Council, with the Auburn Preservation League serving as the local partner.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about historic preservation and area history and for those of us living here, it is a bargain.
In keeping with the theme — Building Partners for Preservation — Auburn Preservation League, headed by Dr. Bobby Dees, is hosting a reception. The Auburn Heritage Association, headed by Mary Norman, is facilitating registration at its wonderful Pine Hill lantern tour that weekend. Dr. Ralph Draughon and Ann Draughon Cousins are sponsoring an event at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, named for their mother.

Dwayne Cox, Head of Archives and Collections at the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, is hosting attendees in special collections. Carl Morgan, city liaison to the Historic Planning Commission, is leading a walking tour through the North College Street Historic District, including visits to the Pick Home, the Crenshaw Guest House and Thomas Sparrow’s wonderful adaptive re-use project on Bragg Avenue, Commerce Networks. The War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen are leading a tour of campus.

Main Street Opelika will welcome participants to its “On the Tracks” celebration and its historic districts are featured on a self-guided tour of Auburn, Opelika, west Lee County and east Macon County. Many of the venues open for visitors. There are three conference tracks: Main Street, Green Preservation and Preservation Partnerships.

This is such a special opportunity. Registration is required. Check http://www.alabamatrust.info in the coming weeks or call the Alabama Trust at 205-652-3497.

Sheila Eckman
Auburn