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Published: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 02:08 PM

Fellow Americans, which way do you want it?

Take a view

I am so confused, I need help. I read the letter from Mr. Ptaszek (published in the Lake Wylie Pilot Nov. 3) about the government debacle of the H1N1 vaccine.

I have several medical professionals in my family and they told me people do not understand what it takes to make a vaccine. They first have to identify the bug, then they have to find a vaccine, then they have to test the vaccine to make sure it is safe, then they can manufacture it. This takes many months. Plus, we are dealing with a “pandemic,” which means it is worldwide, not just in the U.S.

Please, tell me how the U.S. screwed this up.

I have heard for a long time “how could our government allow Wall Street firms and the large banks to give mortgages that had no chance of being paid back and allow many people to over extend themselves with credit cards?” Then they bundled this bad debt and sold it to pension funds and investors as good investments. The government should step in and make sure these companies do not do this again. The government needs to step in a save these large corporations, otherwise our pensions and retirement investments will be depleted, and we will lose everything.

Then I heard about the terrible problems with skyrocketing health care. People were going into bankruptcy to pay their medical bills. How could our government not provide health care to all of their citizens? Other countries have health care and cheap drugs. Why not us?

Now, I am hearing the government should stay out of our financial and private companies. They tell me if the government runs these companies, we are going to be a socialistic or even communistic country. Many people say if we regulate the companies, it will kill competition and we will lose more jobs.

They are trying to scare me to oppose health care by saying if they pass health care, we will have “death panels,” and we cannot pick our own doctors. They talk about how bad Medicare is. Well I am confused. I am on Medicare and my husband is on a private health plan through his pension. I pick any doctor I want as long as they accept Medicare. So far, no one has turned me down. My husband can only use the ones listed as preferred, otherwise he will have to pay larger co-pays and deductibles. I have had more problems getting bills paid and procedures approved for my husband than I have with Medicare. I overpaid for a procedure and did not know it, and Medicate plan sent me a check for the overpayment. I am still trying to get my husband's bills straightened out from 2006 when he had a heart attack. Yes, I have to pay more out-of-pocket expense if I get sick, but the private companies charge me huge premiums every month even if I do not get sick, and then I have to pay co-pay and deductibles if I do.

I have a question for everyone out there. What are you doing to help with these problems?

I go to the store, and I see people there coughing, sneezing and walking around sick. I leave and go later when the store is empty. I had a service call for my cable and the guy came out, and he was sick. I called the company and chewed them out for not letting this man go home. I told them if I get sick, I would make sure they pay my bills. I did not blame the man, he was pressured into coming into work.

Did you apply for a home loan you could not afford, or a credit card you could not pay back? These companies can only sell these things if they have people to sell them too. The Ponzie schemes were successful because people were greedy. I do not know much about the stock market but I asked questions until I understood no one can guarantee those kinds of returns consistently, but many people just wanted more money. Have you cut back on your travel or energy usage? I see big trucks and cars on the road again.

We want high wages but low cost, so our jobs are gone to countries that pay workers half of what we were paid. As Americans, we need to ask ourselves: Are we to blame for these problems because of our demands?

Next time you buy something, look at the labels. If it does not say “Made in the USA,” then put it back. The manufactures will get the message and start bringing our jobs back.

This administration has only 11 months to solve these problems they inherited. I have heard nothing about the trillions of dollars spent on the war in the Middle East. All I hear is the cost of universal health care will wreck our economy, like it wasn't already a mess.

If you do not do things to stop these greedy firms and people from exploiting you then do not complain when the government has to step in and save your butt. We are becoming a nation of selfish and inconsiderate people.

LAURA LILLIE

Lake Wylie