April 23, 2005

Health Care in the Marketplace

To the Editor:

As citizens of one of the wealthiest nations on earth, Americans = should be=20 dumbfounded by the economic inefficiency of what passes for a health = care=20 ''system'' in our country.

As members of the human race, we should be appalled by what our = approach to=20 health care represents.

By abandoning medical coverage to the same market forces that have = brought us=20 insider trading, leveraged buyouts and junk bonds, we have encouraged = people's=20 health, well-being and even lives to be bought and sold like = commodities.

Human dignity demands that some things be protected from the jungle = laws of=20 free-market competition. Until we have equitable and universal health = care=20 coverage, our society will be unable to call itself humane or = democratic.=20

Hugh Siegel
New York, April 22, 2005 =

Copy= right=20 2008 The New York Times = Company=20
Home=20
Privac= y=20 Policy=20
Search=20
Corrections=20
XML=20
Help=20
Contact = Us=20
Work for Us=20
Bac= k=20 to Top

------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/logoprinter.gif R0lGODlhxwAvAMQAAP///wAAALu7u4qKirW1tZmZmUVFRe/v78/Pz+Tk5NDQ0Jqamt/f3xERETEx MaqqqnZ2dmZmZlVVVSEhIaCgoPn5+aampsLCwq2trezs7NfX193d3cjIyPLy8gAAAAAAACH5BAAA AAAALAAAAADHAC8AAAX/ICCOZGmeaKqubOu+cCzPdG3feK7vfO//wKBwSCwaj8ikcslsOp/QqHRK rVqv2Kx2ixsYIguGiDEQixAzAfq0rjEihgXAPDjU1KuHRDJYHwYCXDAHDgGGhnwDDRMABxEDMYSG ciILAXsQNgwNhg0AAgcSAQ4MbS4HEAGBKRGHhg4DC4VmgiwDrrgBE5KQMA+FAQ1iCJyGqzQIf8YC A8AOMqKqKQi5uG+UtSkQDnbMwMEI1AG9L2iplwcPCwYGxyTuLQKGgI2GBjIPxikPDWgIC9EmRTOV rQQZAA8enBkQYc28Gfz0iYAnIkImGPLGrbInIyNFEpn+2WGwIIJCBBOw/xVE8YhMg0DHHjY6QauE AEu6RsBjIK8BuXQjHtixOW9jgHskDgwdMXSoxzGNllaScGDBBEjHpBpMekKpTTsKk0RooMfQxBHz GBjg9s6AMBMHDcg8ZpXUoZCF5Nxy8ICWMo0iOIr404DUiAX9iF19mm/CMxKWBtyStoqBA2xW0SCO 0EgCW6aKLs4RVZickXyQJgNYINre5MufDEDgJKGEpXsZ3wayOnlAxACrEVmeFLSYRnUcCeNsEAZx sGI8jQ0PoHJTbY8IqCKQOw7BgwnBIER7xIl5I0WT0aAvX7NIoUCTD3Dq9fBcILm+DYUVIZczgFZH fQKAMakIo9qA0tyCFP9/rgCyAE73qEbMUXbER49HErQnQipYGSNXbQAUgtQBD4EXoT4ZhTgKgoEc QFAR+gEgITkPPYUfABBEIBVrq8inXyD6wCKjWSwOuSAAe2QEiB0cHSgXUgdOZE+AJsiViUeojPAk WuMAsOVTKTIwAZCqqKVjEoZkcmBMXdrY3YuNHDPZmCwKQAeR+iiYlABKGnUicF5SGeUnU3ZZglzP gKkllQhC8iWKZgklQiGwyHSEIYx4sQYoctSoz4ca6kQCeNLMs9SBeTKqU1GBBeikoERKGcB3hhDE HU8ThAVfoAs+9ChlMTJlABo3IgGgBO780mmbnwYgGkEIgLFqqbOOgAD/qgmqKis9CP7JIJSxEqpK PqPs+IpKAkTA2ZatOhogmIY0VYoZxR7BwCHDTtRAA0yi42aXCyx1AHe69CIKKOUJpRdx9vxBJ1GA dTtkuVZuGO+0cpwDgSmk5jrGe4E+Jk4mlFY1DwIZORAOKIX4JNd+R+CUi14JZxSOJIaOMNkhlakS TjEtRjtJRB6fQC4EgYhDFQPnONDORAA6EIhar4hBqSkT5sLZG/aUwgkprZAyITf/YCrGzqPAWQSt h5Blbb4pDmaAaSKIsoAAc5PALQJSl8AtKmpDAMkBzDST9mFXmSCLKeoOtZ1WAGyHSy92QGCA41RV 5DgES61jxgPDPgJF/+Ew+x2Afyrkg4JXN8izFE8LxAJ5D9fK/kMZtRBzeQsP0M3DLVe5hcuRK62U jtpKiFNNuDQk0AEJHHBQ/PQ3KGIPBA/wuQgOBShAAgEEUC9+DVq9EWoM3Y+v/hAEaKCABQVY4D0A FRAwvwgJEJCABgTET4D0AIieCDKgPw7ADwMZ6MAFKFAAAWSABBrAQAEamAASVOAC8KOAA1WQAQFM EAP3EwH/PqiACowgevkrAAWkF8H4hXB9LVChABKQAA/Ob4EmFAEBLACABCigAPbTgA7D10MVXiAB G8AABeSHRCWO4AIF4AANPbiBERCAAhpA4hWfd4IMUIAAG/BhAS7wxP8x0lABFMBADq9ogSz+0AJg FOMLYagCIJIAA0RMQPoA0IE9AsCPAAAf/vy4AUIWoIIZAKQAeCiCKI6gfkI8wSJJoAACmDCRIcSk DimQQwBgwAKdxCMdXQBIQeqQkTgcQSnzeMgR6LGCg6zgD8FHS/g98BNAvIACNtBJE1BgjiL4YS89 uQpTDvF7RBzlClbpygJooAIUIKMqQ2jKVzYTlkWUZfcUwM1uchEA7gPfBKt4AkBSsgAmMKUxA5lM diqTBcwcARx/+M0/UpOV2LRmLAGQSGwCYAPz64ACvlkBOKJAlCPgnwn1SE4RVGCP64xoO99ZzntC 0IglGCMy98nRbIqPQIlVrMAP7/dFLiZghVYE4D+7t9AvjkCJkUyAErko0Y1SNAXxlGcrSQBFO7rT ox3V5wUnqMJMwo+oF+ikT4PJwAla8pE9deotf3pMK070pjFY5wgykICp2qACNERBB8LaAhoO05UJ OCtWg6CBna71rT34oUbhStcdjNWrdc2rXvfK17769a+ADaxgB3uCEAAAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0 Content-Type: text/css; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/css/page_type/article/print.css A { COLOR: #000066 } A:link { COLOR: #000066 } A:visited { COLOR: #000066 } A:hover { COLOR: #990000 } A H1 { TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A H2 { TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A H3 { TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A H4 { TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A H5 { TEXT-DECORATION: underline } LI { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: = 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: = 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: none } DIV.clear { CLEAR: both; LINE-HEIGHT: 0px } H1 { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 180% } .kicker { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #666 } .byline { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt } .timestamp { MARGIN-TOP: 15px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt } P { FONT-SIZE: 12pt } * HTML P { FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: #000000 } #articleInline { BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; FLOAT: right; = MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: = #ccc 1px solid } #inlineBox { PADDING-RIGHT: 11px; PADDING-LEFT: 11px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 11px; = PADDING-TOP: 11px } .jumpLink { DISPLAY: none } #authorID { FONT-STYLE: italic } #footer { CLEAR: both; MIN-WIDTH: 768px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; ; WIDTH: = expression(document.body.clientWidth < 774 ? "768px" : "auto"); = PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #b9b9b9 1px solid } #footer UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; MARGIN-TOP: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-SIZE: = 76%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 4px; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; = BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5 } #footer LI { BORDER-RIGHT: #000 1px solid; ; BORDER-RIGHT: = expression((this.parentNode.lastChild =3D=3D this)? "none" : "1px solid = #000" ); PADDING-RIGHT: 6px; DISPLAY: inline; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6px } #footer LI:unknown { BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: = none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none } #footer P { MARGIN: 0px } A.rssButton { BORDER-RIGHT: 1px outset; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; BORDER-TOP: 1px outset; = PADDING-LEFT: 4px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: = 1px outset; COLOR: #fff; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px outset; = FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f60; = TEXT-DECORATION: none } A.rssButton:visited { BORDER-RIGHT: 1px outset; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; BORDER-TOP: 1px outset; = PADDING-LEFT: 4px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: = 1px outset; COLOR: #fff; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px outset; = FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f60; = TEXT-DECORATION: none } ------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0 Content-Type: application/octet-stream Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/js/common.js /* =0A= $Id: common.js,v 1.13 2007/10/16 14:42:34 cookn Exp $ =0A= (c) 2006-2007 The New York Times Company =0A= */=0A= =0A= function nameIt() {=0A= window.name =3D 'nytimesmain';=0A= if ((navigator.appName =3D=3D "Microsoft Internet Explorer") && = (document.all.globalsearchform)){=0A= document.all.globalsearchform.style.visibility =3D "visible";=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= function pop_me_up(pURL,features){ =0A= new_window =3D window.open(pURL, "popup_window", features);=0A= new_window.focus();=0A= }=0A= =0A= function pop_me_up2(pURL,name,features){=0A= new_window =3D window.open(pURL,name,features);=0A= new_window.focus();=0A= }=0A= =0A= function changeImage(image_name,image_src) {=0A= document.images[image_name].src =3D image_src;=0A= }=0A= =0A= function goToURL(obj){=0A= var f =3D (obj.section) ? obj : obj.form;=0A= var selected =3D f.section.selectedIndex;=0A= var URL =3D f.section.options[selected].value;=0A= if (URL !=3D "") document.location =3D URL;=0A= return false;=0A= }=0A= =0A= function goToURL2(sel){=0A= // This version only works for onChange events from select objects=0A= // but the select object can have any name, unlike goToURL() which = requires =0A= // the select object to be named "section"=0A= =0A= var selected =3D sel.selectedIndex;=0A= var url =3D sel.options[selected].value;=0A= if (url !=3D "") document.location =3D url;=0A= return false;=0A= }=0A= =0A= if (window.self !=3D window.top) { =0A= top.location.replace(window.location.pathname); =0A= }=0A= //begin functions for Travel flash slideshows=0A= function writeFlashSlideShow(xmlFile){=0A= var swfFile =3D = "/slideshow/swf/slideshow.swf?XMLfile=3D/slideshow/xml/travel/" + = xmlFile;=0A= =0A= var HTMLstr =3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

";=0A= return HTMLstr;=0A= }=0A= =0A= function showFirstSlide(imgName, photoCredit, photoCaption){=0A= var HTMLstr =3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D " $3D\"photo\"$ ";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

" + = photoCredit + "

";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

" + photoCaption + = "

";=0A= return HTMLstr;=0A= }=0A= //end functions for Travel flash slideshows=0A= =0A= //begin functions for Global flash slideshows=0A= function writeEmbeddedFlashSlideShow(xmlFile){=0A= var swfFile =3D = "/slideshow/swf/slideshow.swf?XMLfile=3D/slideshow/xml/" + xmlFile;=0A= =0A= var HTMLstr =3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

";=0A= return HTMLstr;=0A= }=0A= =0A= function showFirstEmbeddedSlide(imgName, photoCredit, photoCaption){=0A= var HTMLstr =3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D " $3D\"photo\"$ ";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

" + = photoCredit + "

";=0A= HTMLstr +=3D "

" + photoCaption + = "

";=0A= return HTMLstr;=0A= }=0A= //end functions for Global flash slideshows=0A= =0A= =0A= function preloadNavImages(imageNames, imagePath){=0A= var loadedImages =3D new Array();=0A= if (document.images) {=0A= for (var i=3D0; i < imageNames.length; i++){=0A= loadedImages[i] =3D new Image();=0A= loadedImages[i].src =3D imagePath + "nav_" + imageNames[i] + = "_off.gif";=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= }=0A= =0A= function readCookie(value){=0A= var allCookieVals =3D document.cookie.split(";");=0A= for (var i=3D0; i < allCookieVals.length; i++){ //loop through all = cookies=0A= if (allCookieVals[i].indexOf(value) !=3D -1) { //find target cookie=0A= var cookieVal =3D allCookieVals[i].split("=3D"); //split name/value = pair=0A= return cookieVal[1]; //return target cookie value=0A= }=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= function expandMultimediaWindow(){=0A= if (window.resizeTo && window.moveTo) {=0A= window.resizeTo(screen.availWidth, screen.availHeight);=0A= window.moveTo(0,0);=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= function shrinkMultimediaWindow(w,h){=0A= if (window.resizeTo) window.resizeTo(w,h);=0A= if (window.moveTo) {=0A= var winX =3D ((screen.availWidth/2) - (w/2));=0A= var winY =3D ((screen.availHeight/2) - (h/2));=0A= window.moveTo(winX,winY);=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= function ieXLiquidWidth() {=0A= if (document.body.clientWidth < 774) {=0A= return "768px";=0A= } else if (document.body.clientWidth > 984) {=0A= return "980px";=0A= } else {=0A= return "auto";=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= function setClientSizeCookies() {=0A= var client_w =3D document.body.clientWidth;=0A= var path =3D "/";=0A= var domain =3D "nytimes.com";=0A= document.cookie =3D "client_w=3D" + client_w + "; path=3D " + = path + "; domain=3D" + domain;=0A= }=0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= // Function for Classifieds and Most Popular modules=0A= function Accordian(target) {=0A= typeof target =3D=3D "object" ? this.element =3D target : = this.element =3D document.getElementById(target); if (!this.element) = return false; =0A= this.ul =3D this.element.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0]; =0A= this.tabs =3D this.ul.getElementsByTagName("li");=0A= this.tabContent =3D this.getTabContent();=0A= this.bind();=0A= }=0A= =0A= Accordian.prototype.getTabContent =3D function() {=0A= tabContent=3D new Array(); =0A= this.divs =3D this.element.getElementsByTagName("div");=0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < this.divs.length; i++) {=0A= if (/tabContent/i.test(this.divs[i].className)) {=0A= tabContent.push(this.divs[i]); =0A= }=0A= }=0A= return tabContent;=0A= }=0A= =0A= =0A= Accordian.prototype.bind =3D function() { =0A= var o =3D this;=0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < this.tabs.length; i++) {=0A= this.tabs[i].onclick =3D function() { =0A= if (this.className !=3D 'selected') {=0A= o.open(this); return false;=0A= var a =3D this.getElementsByTagName("a")[0];=0A= if (a) a.onclick =3D function() { =0A= return false; =0A= }=0A= }=0A= } =0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= Accordian.prototype.open =3D function(caller) { =0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < this.tabs.length; i++) {=0A= var tab =3D this.tabs[i]; =0A= if (tab =3D=3D caller) { =0A= this.collapse();=0A= tab.className =3D "selected"=0A= this.tabContent[i].style.display =3D "block";=0A= }=0A= }=0A= }=0A= =0A= Accordian.prototype.collapse =3D function() {=0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < this.tabs.length; i++) { =0A= this.tabs[i].className =3D "";=0A= this.tabContent[i].style.display =3D "none"; =0A= } =0A= }=0A= =0A= //Function for Google ads links=0A= function linkbox(url, winName) {=0A= window.open(url, winName, =0A= "location=3Dyes,directories=3Dyes,menubar=3Dyes,toolbar=3Dyes,status=3Dye= s,resizable=3Dyes,scrollbars=3Dyes");=0A= } =0A= =0A= =0A= function enhanceAccordians() {=0A= var divs =3D document.getElementsByTagName('div');=0A= for (var i =3D 0; i < divs.length; i++) {=0A= var element =3D divs[i]; =0A= if (/accordian/i.test(element.className)) {=0A= new Accordian(element);=0A= }=0A= } =0A= }=0A= =0A= getMetaTagValue =3D function(name){=0A= if (document.getElementsByTagName) {=0A= var meta =3D document.getElementsByTagName("meta");=0A= for (var i=3D0; i < meta.length; i++) {=0A= if (meta[i].name =3D=3D name) return = meta[i].content;=0A= }=0A= }=0A= }=0A= ------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0 Content-Type: application/octet-stream Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/js/article_dhtml.js /*=0A= article.js=0A= */=0A= function switchTab(activeTab, activeBoxId) {=0A= if (document.getElementById) {=0A= var allTabs =3D activeTab.parentNode;=0A= var activeBox =3D document.getElementById(activeBoxId);=0A= var allBoxes =3D activeBox.parentNode;=0A= =0A= // loop through tabs and change them to off state=0A= for (i=3D0; i 984) {=0A= return "980px";=0A= } else {=0A= return "auto";=0A= }=0A= }=0A= ------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0 Content-Type: application/octet-stream Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/js/Tacoda_AMS_DDC_Header.js var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_snippet_version =3D "1.3a";=0A= var Tacoda_AMD_DDC_snippet_date =3D "011905";=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_clist =3D new Array("TID","RMID","nyt-d");=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_clist_notset =3D null;=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_keys =3D new Array();=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_values =3D new Array();=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_num =3D 0;=0A= function Tacoda_AMS_DDC_getCookie(name) {=0A= var cname =3D name + "=3D";=0A= var dc =3D document.cookie;=0A= if (dc.length > 0) {=0A= for(var begin =3D dc.indexOf(cname); begin !=3D -1; begin =3D =0A= dc.indexOf(cname, begin)) {=0A= if((begin !=3D 0) && (dc.charAt(begin - 1) !=3D ' ')) {=0A= begin++;=0A= continue;=0A= }=0A= begin +=3D cname.length;=0A= var end =3D dc.indexOf(";", begin);=0A= if (end =3D=3D -1)=0A= end =3D dc.length;=0A= return unescape(dc.substring(begin, end));=0A= }=0A= }=0A= return Tacoda_AMS_DDC_clist_notset;=0A= }=0A= function Tacoda_AMS_DDC_addPair(key, value) {=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_keys[Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_num] =3D key;=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_values[Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_num] =3D value;=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_num++;=0A= }=0A= function Tacoda_AMS_DDC_collect_vars() {=0A= var Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_as_string =3D "";=0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_num; i++) {=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_as_string +=3D "&var_" + escape( =0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_keys[i] ) + "=3D" + escape( Tacoda_AMS_DDC_values[i] ) ;=0A= }=0A= return Tacoda_AMS_DDC_vars_as_string;=0A= }=0A= function Tacoda_AMS_DDC(Tacoda_AMS_DDC_img_url, Tacoda_AMS_DDC_js) {=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_js =3D parseFloat(Tacoda_AMS_DDC_js);=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_args =3D "?" + Math.random() + "&snippet_version=3D" + =0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_snippet_version + "&referrer=3D" + = escape(document.referrer) + =0A= "&page=3D" + escape(window.location.href);=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_args +=3D "&timezone=3D" + (new = Date()).getTimezoneOffset();=0A= for(var i =3D 0; i < Tacoda_AMS_DDC_clist.length; i++) {=0A= var clist_name =3D Tacoda_AMS_DDC_clist[i];=0A= var clist_value =3D Tacoda_AMS_DDC_getCookie(clist_name);=0A= if(clist_value !=3D null) {=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_args +=3D "&clist_" + escape(clist_name) + "=3D" + =0A= escape(clist_value);=0A= }=0A= }=0A= Tacoda_AMS_DDC_args +=3D Tacoda_AMS_DDC_collect_vars();=0A= document.write('');=0A= }=0A= =0A= ------=_NextPart_000_00B6_01C8BF1C.FAEF85D0--