Montrose - Daily Press

On Nov. 7, a majority of the House, including Colorado Rep. John Salazar, voted to move the process ahead after months of debate, furious lobbying, and unrelenting broadcasts of sky-is-falling political ads warning of government takeover of health care.

At several thousand pages, I doubt that many have read and digested what the bill says, but there is certainly no shortage of opinions on the content by those who don’t wish to be bothered by the facts, and particularly those who have not had the experience of having been denied coverage or charged exorbitant rates because their body type falls outside a Body Mass Index scale used to determine a rating class, or who endure allergies that require maintenance medications.

It takes courage to change a system that has been long established and that is so well protected by the wealth and influence of insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Neither wishes for lawmakers and citizens to mess with their rice bowl. Each would have us quietly accept their decisions on our care and its cost.

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I realize that some would take issue with any matter taken up during an opposing party’s tenure in the majority, but I choose to believe that there are thoughtful and intelligent people in each party who will think about what is good for the majority of U.S. citizens and how their lives can be improved by well considered laws and policies.

To those people in both parties who fit into the latter category, I encourage you to now come together and find the fortitude to work together to craft a final work product from both houses of Congress that will stand the test of time. Perhaps they will amaze us.

Joey Huddleston

Ridgway

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