Sally Stutlien: Human Rights, Not Politics

To the Editor:

For many months I have followed the completely inaccurate and unfounded thoughts of Rick Berg, who is a Congressional candidate, on the opinion page. As a lifelong ND resident, I take GREAT UMBRAGE in particular with his ridiculous commercials about “repealing” the new healthcare reform bill.
                                                                 
My family is fortunate, so we take an interest in helping others, though we are by no means wealthy. We attend many benefits and contribute to many worthy causes such as the American Diabetes Organization, the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, National Multiple Schlerosis, and the Altzheimers Foundation of America. What we have found is that ALL OF THESE organizations, as well as six single-spaced pages of others, were in favor of the same healthcare reform bill that was passed, and that Rick Berg would like to repeal.

We have also met several people who will benefit greatly from the current healthcare legislation by their children staying on their family plans until age 26; people finally not being discriminated against because they have a child with a disability; people who wish to switch jobs but haven’t because they might lose their coverage; people who have maxed out their benefits (but ironically there was never a max on the insurance charge side); and the elderly who have fallen victim to the donut hole in the unfunded Medicare Part D.

I do not see people’s access to healthcare as a political issue, but as a human rights issue. It perplexes me that someone would run a campaign centered on going back to the discriminating practices that allowed insurance companies open season on the sick and injured.

-Sally Stutlien
Fargo