To the Editor:

On Saturday I went to the Jackson County Recreation Center for a workout. I was guided into the parking lot by some very nice young people and greeted by a number of vendors selling food and gifts. What is the celebration, I wondered, and learned that a well-known young lady, suffering from cancer, was being honored by a fundraiser to help with her health care expenses. What a wonderful example of our community pulling together to help one another.

Several years ago I witnessed in Haywood County a similar event with a BBQ sale for another person suffering from cancer. There are times I see a jar on the counter in a restaurant asking for donations for a person needing an operation. 

While these examples are to be honored and celebrated, they dramatically point out the insanity causing these events to take place. For every person fortunate to have someone raise funds for their healthcare calamity, there are countless other loved ones who are not so fortunate, who suffer needlessly and are indebted to the health care industry for life. A friend of mine was run off the road on his bicycle and seriously injured. He was rushed to Mission Hospital and is now fully recovered but owes the hospital over $24,000. No one is raising funds for him. Isn’t it regrettable so many lack adequate coverage with a health care system considered to be the highest cost system in the industrialized world?

Other wealthy countries spend about half as much per capita on health. Quality health care metrics ranks our country the worst. The U.S. experiences higher rates of medical, medication and lab errors versus other countries at 19 percent while Canada’s error rate is 15 percent and the United Kingdom’s error rate is 11 percent.

Why do our representatives oppose health care for everyone? Why do others call such ideas communistic or socialistic? I have looked and looked but cannot find in the New Testament any story of Jesus Christ asking sick, lame or blind persons about their insurance provider, copay, deductible and number of hours worked before healing them. Was Jesus practicing socialism? Was he a communist?

Enough. Isn’t it time to advocate for quality healthcare for everyone, not just a fortunate few? Jesus did. Isn’t that what religious leaders of all beliefs have advocated for centuries? What about billboards, social media, letters and social action to encourage discussion and solutions for creating an efficient and cost effective healthcare system that serves everyone and helps our local economies. No strings attached.

Ron Robinson

Sylva