This country has the greatest health care in the world, and we're going to lose it if we don't act quickly.

The rush to finish the so-called reform should be a heads-up for everyone, especially taxpayers. I lived in England for four years. I could tell you many horror stories concerning the health care, or lack thereof, including my own.

The Brits pay dearly for this "free" care because it's funded by extremely high taxes. Their sales tax alone is 17 percent. Many will say that in the United States it will be different. Our government can do it better. Oh?

Would that apply to the postal service? Example: A broken door takes two months to repair, waiting for approval, as opposed to two days in the private sector. They are also billions of dollars in the red.

Or Medicaid? Example: The wait for a pair of glasses is eight months as opposed to one week in the private sector. The fraud and waste total at least $50 billion each year.

How about Medicare? Example: Patient dies. It takes her daughter two years to get Medicare to stop paying the hospital for the daily IVs her mother was receiving. More fraud and waste in the billions.

Would that include Social Security? Example: Checks are sent to dead people. It's bankrupt and riddled with inaccuracies and fraud.

Obama is trying to make the insurance companies out to be the bad guys, but at least there are 1,300 companies from which to choose. With government bureaucracy, how well do you think the system will work for lowering prices and providing efficient service?

If you believe the government will provide better or equal care, you are in the same fantasy world as are the president and Congress.

Kathy Rowerdink

Pinehurst