Christine Brown will make healthcare a priority

Healthcare is one of those issues that will not go away. We also know how the controversy will end. Eventually, the United States, like every advanced nation, will adopt universal healthcare. The only question is: how much suffering and death will occur in the meantime.

The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) was an attempt to move the country in that direction. In response, Republicans have undermined it, including cutting off sources of funding, obstructing the sign-up process, and promoting substandard insurance policies, thereby sabotaging healthcare for millions of Americans. One marvels at the malevolence shown by these right-wing partisans.

However, rising costs demand a holistic approach to healthcare that only a national system can provide. The idea that marketplace competition will magically reduce these costs is absurd. If it could happen, it would have happened by now. Drug companies raise prices, sometimes unconscionably. The competition that does occur tends to raise rather than lower prices. This includes redundancy of medical equipment and facilities. This leads to unnecessary tests on unnecessary equipment.

Christine Brown will be your independent voice in Congress. She takes no large donations, is beholden to no one except her constituents, and will make healthcare a top priority.

Carl Baker

West Richland