Letter: Too few fear potential abuses by managed care

Well, such a situation would last just as long as it took the public to get the insurance companies out of the grocery business, and all of insurers' contributions to Republican lawmakers would make absolutely no difference whatsoever and they (Republicans) would all be gone after the next election. Right?

So why isn't the the public reacting in such a fashion against HMOs, insurance companies and their toady Republican senators when exactly the same thing is being done with health care? The answer, of course, is what has kept insurance price gougers and care deniers in control of health care for so long, and it is frighteningly simple.

The fact is that all of the public must eat every day, while only a small fraction of the public needs health care everyday. In other words, the law of "I got mine, to hell with you" kicks in. Nobody is much worried they will get sick tomorrow and most don't care about those who do; therefore, not many are going to do more than just sympathize with those who are affected.

Sadly, I don't think the health care crisis will ever be solved until every American realizes that the health care denied may be his own.

DAN OLIVIER

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