Recent months have seen a large and growing controversy over a national health bill. A few thoughts:
If this new coverage for all Americans is such a great deal for us, why aren't the executive and legislative branches covered by the plan? They chose to stay with the plan they created for themselves, which, by the way, is far more comprehensive and costs them little or nothing. In other words, what's good for the goose is certainly not acceptable to the gander.
On a related note, the retirement benefits that this illustrious Congress receives are, on average, five times higher than the highest Social Security benefits the average taxpayer enjoys, and are vested far sooner.
If the Social Security benefits and health benefits (now proposed) are as wonderful as stated, I believe it is long past time for Congress and, indeed, all federal employees to partake of the same largesse as the rest of us.
The hypocrisy of telling the average American that the health plan being formulated at present is the best thing for the country and then saying it is not good enough for themselves truly stretches the bounds of arrogance.
It is about time we told our representatives and senators as well as the administration, Republican or Democrat, that if they won't be part of the plans they foist on us, then we don't want to be included either, and if they choose to keep their favored plans, then there is always the ballot box.
Mike Burke
Zinc Spur
