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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2009

Health Care In Canada

I'm confused by Gene Costain's article Jan. 24 ("Universal Health Care For Elephant, Mouse," Views). Is he for or against universal health care or just writing about the poor job journalists have done reporting the facts about it? I'm hoping to provide a little more clarity.

Yes, Canadians have universal health care, but it is not free. Canadians are the most highly taxed group of people within North America. Canadians pay anywhere from 8 percent to 20 percent combined federal and provincial taxes for goods and services. Federal taxes are up to 51 percent based on your annual income.

Most taxes go to maintaining our universal health care system. Taxpayers of Ontario pay an additional $900 per year, which is to go specifically toward the cost of improving the health care system.

The wait times reported in his article are from 2005. Wait times are more like 12 weeks to 16 weeks (not in emergency cases) now. To see a specialist, it's anywhere from 6 to 12 months, longer in some specialties.

Many Canadians now do not have a primary physician. Health care costs continue to spiral out of control, and there is no accountability within the system or governments.

D. BROWN

Toronto, Ontario

Numbers Disputed

Regarding "Universal Health Care For Elephant, Mouse,"

Gene Costain's statement that "the American system all but disenfranchises 47 million Americans" (from having health insurance) is a bold-face untruth and has been discredited many times over by credible experts. Costain and Michael Moore, among others, fail to recognize the truth because that ruins their whole "bad America" theme and thus their reason for being.

While the actual total of uninsured is open to debate, there are millions of people who should be excluded from that total. For example, statistics show that 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance within four months of job transitions. Those who can afford their own insurance, also estimated to be numbered in the millions, should be excluded from any such figure.

We should not emulate Canada or any other nation by turning to socialism, which appears to be these two gentlemen's point and purpose in life. Socialism does not work.

JACK JENSEN

Dade City

Expensive Experience

I went to the Super Bowl NFL Experience last weekend. I had a pretty good time and would recommend it to others. However, I can't help but wonder if the NFL couldn't get away with making just a lot of money - instead of an obscene amount of money that defies the imagination.

People were walking around the NFL store shaking their heads at the cost of shirts and jackets that would be considered expensive at half the price, let alone what they were selling for. When you hear of $1,000 tickets, million-dollar commercials and all the free labor they need, you cannot help but think whether everyone could make just a little less money.

I'll never be able to afford to go to a game, but I'd like to think that I could afford a shirt. NFL: Need For Loot.

JOSEPH MOORE

Tampa

Fees Questioned

The article "Schools Multiplied; Students Divided" (Jan. 24) substantiates the frivolous use of taxpayers' money in the hiring of consultants by the Hillsborough County School Board.

Rather than spending the $140,000 on a consultant to establish school boundaries, why couldn't that have been done in-house, particularly by Bill Person, general director of student placement and support?

The placement of children in our county seems to be a perennial problem. The board should have a competent staff that could solve this problem and save these fees.

JAMES N. HOLMES

Tampa

Narrow-Minded Board

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Hillsborough County; please be prepared to turn your clocks back 10 years. Congratulations to Kevin Beckner and Rose Ferlita for attempting to get the narrow-minded board of county commissioners to approve domestic partnership benefits ("County Shuns Discussions On Domestic Partner Benefits," Jan. 23). Unfortunately, discrimination wins again.

I thought once Ronda Storms was off the board we might see some progress in our community, but again, bigotry and hatred wins out. Shame on you, commissioners. Don't you think it's time to embrace what is right and just for all?

CRAIG CHAMBERLIN

Tampa

The Chief Messed Up

Regarding "Obama's Free Pass" (Letters, Jan. 24):

It would be interesting to know how many letters you get rebutting Michelle Keller's letter accusing President Obama of flubbing his oath of office.

It was, in fact, Chief Justice Roberts who erred in the placement of the word "faithfully" when swearing in the president. How nice it would be if people would get the facts straight before accusing the media of giving free passes to Obama.

MARILYN B. SINGER

Lakeland

JOIN DISCUSSION

The Tribune welcomes letters and e-mails from readers. The text should be original and no longer than 150 words. By making a submission, you agree the Tribune may edit the letter for length and clarity, and publish it in any medium.

Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Mail to: P.O. Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601-0191. Or e-mail without attachments: tribletters@tampatrib.com.

Also, read and participate in the Tribune editorial board's blog, "Thinking Out Loud," at www.tboblogs.com/index.php/thinkoutloud/categories....

The writer is a seasonal resident of Odessa.

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