Dennis Heiman

We are now watching a monumental dust-up over the ACA.

Hell-bent on fulfilling their campaign promise, the Republicans have trotted out killing Obamacare as their first priority now that they have that power. Meanwhile the Democrats are pushing back hoping to salvage a key component of President Obama's legacy.

What's most disappointing is that this has become just another us against them, red vs. blue debate that we've come to expect (and accept) from Washington, D.C., politics.

Relatively absent is any thoughtful discussion and analysis of just what would be the most viable and effective strategy for making affordable health care sustainable and available to all, something both sides claim as a main objective. We're not starting with a complete unknown here. If you believe WHO data, there are numerous examples from other developed countries that are apparently providing equal or better quality healthcare at a much lower cost than we are.

Unfortunately, there's a somewhat prevailing attitude that, since the U.S. is the brightest light bulb on Earth, why waste time looking at and perhaps following the examples of others. I have no personal stake in this matter (I'm not covered under Obamacare), nor do I make any claim to be knowledgeable on the overall merits or lack thereof of that program. My opinions are guided by my own life experience. I am a retired employee of the state of California. From day one of my 35 years of employment, I had a monthly paycheck deduction for Medicare and another for the state sponsored healthcare program. This is what we call the "individual mandate"; no choice.

Looking back, I am eternally grateful there was no choice since, while in my 30s and 40s, I might have been stupid enough to forgo health insurance payments in lieu of other higher priorities at the time; I'm healthy, why pay for something I don't need?

Now at 72, I consider myself a relatively healthy person, however in the past 10 years I've had two hip replacements, a surgically reconstructed wrist, and treatment for prostate cancer, all paid for through Medicare and my supplemental insurance coverage.

In the absence of those, the cumulative cost would have been astronomical and paramount to bankruptcy.

My point is that my own personal experience has led me to the opinion that affordable health care should be a right, not a privilege and financial contribution toward that right should be a requirement, not a choice.

The Republican approach is to make health care and health insurance market based. Free it up for competition between private, for-profit providers and that will solve the cost control problem. I think that's entirely appropriate for things like buying a TV, a car, a home, etc. For matters of necessity like police and fire protection — and healthcare — I'm not convinced that's the proper approach. I've come to believe for matters such as healthcare and health insurance, a single payer, universal system is the simplest and most effective approach.

— Dennis Heiman lives in Palo Cedro.