To the editor,

It was incredibly sad that two letters to the editor accused the ACA/Obamacare as the cause of the massive cuts to healthcare instead of HR1 or over 100 years of The Profit motive and BELIEFS that many of us are unworthy, voting against attempts to have a single payer/public option healthcare in the US as exists in all other PEER countries. Decades of numbers show those healthcare systems cover everyone and cost less than ours and have better health outcomes. Everyone pays in as able and all receive care.

The US costs far more because of the power of private healthcare insurance companies. According to all information their CEOs’ compensations are from $18-$60 million. And these companies decide if a treatment or medication will be covered.

The last letter said that “illegal aliens” were using Medicaid; therefore, our friends and neighbors should also go without. There is no record or numbers or history of this, especially in Wisconsin. Therefore, this is an attempt to cause people to vote against the virtuous circles of healthcare, public health, funding of hospitals, clinics and educating our students to become doctors nurses and return home to work. Documents show that only those who have documents to live and work in this country can have health insurance. Those in healthcare consider it their medical and ethical duty to care for those who come to the ER in an emergency which would include non-citizens. Then each pays the bill personally or go without, get sick or bankrupt. 

There are basic, successful public health measures in epidemics/pandemics. Testing, contact tracing, comfortable quarantine and treatment. Taiwan had the first COVID-19 case the same day as the US. They took these actions and never totally closed down their economy, education; all wore masks with high vaccination rate. Wisconsin deaths were 4 times higher -From CDC World Bank.

Now, the three ballot measures. One harmful to basic public health strategies, one to medical knowledge and last the governor’s power. All written by GOP majority and would change the Wisconsin Constitution. VOTE NO!

Wendy Dart

Maiden Rock