This is in response to the Oct. 21 article by Pete Gonzales concerning the health care issue.

The two main concerns we have about health care are: 1) The cost and 2) the lack of accessibility for those Americans who want health insurance but are unable to obtain it.

The cost issue can be resolved by tort reform and by lifting state regulations prohibiting crossing state lines to obtain health insurance. Permitting all insurers to provide insurance in all the states would create the competition necessary to lower costs. A public option would not create competition; it would drive private insurers out of the market because they have to make a profit to stay in business. The government does not have to make a profit, as clearly shown by our huge deficit. The government has not been able to run Medicare efficiently — right now there are trillions of dollars in “unfunded liabilities,” i.e., promises of future payments that the government must make. The state of Massachusetts enacted a public option in 2006, and right now they are trying to deal with the huge cost increases by rationing medical services provided. If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

Polls show that about 85 percent of Americans are satisfied with their health coverage. The polls also show that a large percentage of uninsured Americans do not want insurance. Let’s focus on getting coverage for that small percentage of people that want coverage but can’t access it now. There are a number of proposals out there that would accomplish this. We do not have to drastically reform the greatest health care system in the world just to get health coverage for those few. In addition, under the plans currently being considered by Congress, about one-third of those not currently covered will still be uninsured. As always, the devil is in the details.

The proponents of health care reform say it has to be done now, but the plans being discussed in Congress will not go into effect until 2013. So why the rush to get it passed? We start paying for the plan right away, before we start “benefiting” from it. And this is supposed to make it more fiscally palatable to us? No wonder the cost of proposed reform is looking better — they’re getting income, but not having to provide any service.

We have written Congressman Adam Smith and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, asking if they will go on the public option if it is passed. None have chosen to reply. It is very telling that the very ones that are trying to foist this plan on us are unwilling to join those of us that will be forced onto the public option. How dare our representatives play politics with one of the most important aspects of our lives.

W. and E. Ingbrigtsen, Federal Way