Readers Write: Time for single-payer health care

The Island Now

We could wait for the Congress repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act until the end of 2017, but it will never appear.

The House of Representatives passed the abominable “American Health Care Act” and the Senate will not be able to present anything at all.

The voting public knows that anything they invent will destroy health care in this country. Goodbye Trumpcare.

There is no need to waste any more time listening to Trump’s promises (read that ‘lies’ — he knows nothing!).

Healthcare Activists, have launched a campaign of rallies and meetings to explain the New York Health Act, which is a single payer health-care program which has already passed the state Assembly three times.

They are pressing the State Senate to find one more sponsor to bring it to a vote in the Senate.

Activists are strongly urging senators Hannon and Elaine Phillips to act. Their reluctance is insupportable.

Ms. Phillips, when approached at a meeting, replied that she had been in the Senate too short a time to have an opinion and Hannon has already been in the Senate too long with a conservative record that does not serve us well. Perhaps voters must persuade him more vigorously.

A group of activists held a rally, complete with slogans and posters, in front of his office building last Saturday, that was cheered on by hundreds of passing vehicles, but neither he nor his representatives appeared.

Give both of them phone calls or emails.

A similar campaign in California is getting much attention and approval. Single payer activists have succeeded in passing, on June 2, in the California Senate, a similar bill.

The proposal must now passed by the California State Assembly.

Both California and New York advocates have studied the Economic Analysis of the New York Health Act by Gerald Friedman of the University of Massachusetts, Political Research Institute, which was prepared for Richard Gottfried of the state Assembly.

May we respectfully urge that you get in touch with our reluctant representatives in Albany.

Knowledge is power!

It is possible, if we succeed in these two progressive states that the confusion and need of the country will ultimately be remedied.

Polls support the desire for a program in the U.S. that is morally right and has succeeded in so many industrialized nations in the world, at much lesser cost, and with great fairness and results.

Esther Confino

New Hyde Park

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