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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2009

Research With Embryos

All of us began life as embryos. Aren't we lucky or blessed that no one put us in a dish and tore us apart in the name of "science"?

CATHY STARNES

Plant City

Canadian Health Plans

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Karen Pipes' letter about Canada's health care system ("Defending Canadian Health Care," Letter Of The Day, March 10). I've wondered about socialized medicine and if it was as bad as Americans say. Thanks to you and Pipes, now I know it is not.

DEBRA MOORE

Land O' Lakes

Rationed Health Care

Regarding "Defending Canadian Health Care":

I would like to counter Karen Pipes' opinion of Canadian care. My wife is Canadian, and her brother and his family still live there. Her brother has had multiple medical problems over the years, and the system is not only expensive, but also inefficient.

The brother had bad knees at a rather young age but was deemed too young for transplants. Since he could not exercise or even walk much without pain, he gained weight and developed heart trouble. When he ended up in the ER years later needing a quadruple bypass, he was told the wait would be about a week. Here, that surgery would have been done the next day. Since they do not live in a big city like Toronto, they have to travel many miles to get vital tests like CT scans or MRIs if they are allowed to have them.

Rationed health care is what Canada has, and the taxes to support it are making them sicker. I am glad Mr. and Mrs. Pipes are happy with their system, but do not let their bliss with their country color the health debate here. The bottom line is that socialist health care is not working as well as our system. It costs too much, both in dollars and in quality.

WALT ASHLEY

Land O'Lakes

Equal Air Time
We as a nation are not being served when the public airwaves are dominated by primarily one side, in most cases just the right side. If not the fairness doctrine, at least provide equal air time for the many qualified voices we have had and who are now being silenced.

RUSSELL OFFENBACH

Tampa

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....

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