Quality health care

My family will never receive the level or quality of health care that, for example, President Barack Obama or ex-Vice President Dick Cheney can obtain. Wealth and success can earn privilege. That is acceptable. My family has received coverage of average quality paid by combinations of out-of-pocket expense, private insurance and now Medicare with a supplemental policy. That, too, is acceptable.

There is another group in our society that lacks not just superior coverage or average coverage they lack the most essential health care coverages that would permit them to live with some degree of comfort and security. This is morally unacceptable. It is clear to a majority of residents that a healthy, educated society benefits all members.

We must expand health care coverage knowing it is a wise and ethical action.

Lawrence J. DellaMattera

East Newport

I was glad to see the Dec. 24 OpEd by Peter Mills and Sharon Tisher, Maine should lead Washington on climate policy.

Maine has a long history of protecting our environment: Sens. Ed Muskie and George Mitchell were critical in constructing the laws that protect our water and air nationwide. According to the American Lung Associations State of the Air 2013 report, nearly half of Maine people live in areas with unhealthy air. Air pollution causes tens of thousands of asthma attacks, emergency room visits, missed days of school and work, and can exacerbate and worsen other health conditions.

Maine is often called the tailpipe of the nation as much of the air pollution in Maine is blown in from the coal-burning Midwest. Because of that, we depend on the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the laws that Muskie and Mitchell constructed. Now, we are depending on Congress to address carbon pollution and the devastating effects that climate change is already having on our state and nation.

In this time of partisan bickering in Washington, Maine is in a unique position to show the rest of the country whats at stake if we dont act on climate. Sen. Susan Collins has broken ranks with her party by voting against a measure that would prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. And just this week Sen. Angus King joined the Senate Climate Action Task Force. Our senators get it. Now its time for the rest of Washington to get on board.

The rest is here:

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014: Health care privilege, climate policy, emergency room care