Pat's article in Tribune Democrat

Changes to Medicare are not acceptable

This letter is in response to James Finkelstein's letter of Oct. 12, "A bumpy road to
Medicare." He talks about taking his 3 year old daughter to a medical specialist each month
using a rut-filled dirt road, instead of being able to use Medicare's six lane superhighway.

If that superhighway was open for everyone, it would be immediately and forever under construction, going from six to eight lanes, then to 10 lanes and so on.

Medicare was established in 1965, and since 1970 there's been discussions of
privatization. I've contributed toward the construction and maintenance of
that six lane superhighway over the past 44 years, and I must voice strong disagreement with Finkelstein's "obvious solution" To allow everyone under 65 to use the service.

I do agree, though, that we need a good, affordable health-care system for everyone,
but not at the cost of depleting Medicare.

In 1965, I was 27 years old, my daughter was 3 and her brothers were 4 and 5.
I've been paying the payroll deduction and have used that muddy road many times.

Think of all the dollare that were deducted over the years, and the interest that
they could have earned. Instead, they were going to help pay medical expenses,
possibly for his parents or grandparents.

Now that we finally retired, my generation cannot and will not accept any change in
Medicare. We have already purchased and paid for it's service.
There is no obvious soltion.

I say as Finkelstein did: Congress, are you listening?

Pat Sheridan
Westmont