To the editor:
We Americans have always enjoyed the right to make our own choices and "Live Free or Die." It is the history of New Hampshire and the nation. Many believe we will lose our freedom as soon as the U.S. House and Senate approve the health reform bill.
I agree this will be a giant step forward to embracing a socialist society as the health measure will reach everyone and everywhere in American society. Representatives Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter have helped put us closer to socialism by voting for this bill. The bill doesn't include tort reform for lawsuits, no interstate insurance can be made available, and there's no control over fraud. There should be as the Obama administration recently agreed that $48 billion was spent in the last year on very questionable provider claims which could be called a matter of fraud. Get it under control!
There will be mandates to make every American citizen pay for health insurance — either pay or go to jail. This hardship will ruin families financially without choice. Except it's free for illegals in the country. With the increase in co-payments and reduction in benefits, millions will experience higher health costs. This will result by not controlling fraud in the health program. All legal Americans (except Congress) lose.
Since the government will control lives from the cradle to the grave, it is called socialism with a capital "S." We could and should offer universal health insurance to all with fraud control, tort reform for reduced payments in lawsuits and more choices to buy insurance across state lines.
The question we need to ask our elected officials is one of freedom of choice or are they going to vote in a socialist system butting into everyone's lives as the AARP endorsed? As a member, I do not agree with them as they are putting our freedom second.
For the sake of our country, I urge you to contact our U.S. senators and ask them to vote no! Or at least insert many of the free enterprise thoughts to improve the health reform bill and keep America a free nation.
EDWARD BROOKS
Salem, N.H.
