4A
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019
The Observer
OUR VIEW
Helping
those
who are
in need
It is that time of year when many of us gather
with friends and family to celebrate and refl ect on
all of the things we are grateful for.
But for a portion of our community, the holidays
offer up only another set of days on the calendar as
they struggle to make ends meet. Other families
must face the unpleasant fact they may not be able
to adequately clothe their children. Others don’t
know how they’re going to eat their next meal.
In this day and age, that simply is unacceptable.
These issues won’t be solved by one organization
because to adequately care for our downtrodden it
takes a full community effort.
Area food banks need all our assistance. Hunger
for many and tight times for the working poor
isn’t an issue that is just going to go away. Unfor-
tunately, it is a chronic issue in our community
— and throughout the nation — and needs to be
addressed by organizations and by community
members.
One good way to help is easy. Donate food items
to your local food bank. It is that easy. And if you
don’t think one or two or three food items will
make a difference and therefore brush the no-
tion away, don’t. Your contribution, no matter how
small, will make a difference. Every effort, no mat-
ter how modest it may seem, is a critical donation.
In a perfect world, of course, everyone during the
holidays would have enough to eat and enough
clothes and a bright future. That isn’t the reality,
though, and so by making a donation to a food
bank, each one of us can help at a crucial time.
While the plight of the hungry and the working
poor secure the limelight during the holiday sea-
son, the subject often fades as the holidays recede.
That is another challenge the community must
address. The hungry don’t just exist during the
holidays. The challenge exists 12 months a year.
We must not let this important issue fade away
only to be resurrected during the holidays.
The hungry, those who are barely subsisting,
don’t usually make headlines. Yet they are out
there, and they need our help. There is nothing
wrong with reaching out occasionally and helping
someone who needs a hand up. Our nation was
built on the lofty ideals of helping those who need
assistance — “Give me your tired, your poor, Your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” We are
a generous, forgiving country.
So, this holiday season, don’t forget those who
need help.
MY VOICE
We have a God-given right to
affordable and competent health care
I
read the recent article in the My
Voice column written by Dr. Tim
Gleeson, “Health care — the way it
could have been” (The Observer, Nov.
18) with some dismay. I know Dr. Glee-
son means well and it might work for
those of us making a six-fi gure income,
but unfortunately most of us are not
that wealthy.
I believe we do have a God-given
right to affordable and competent
health care. I have had a loved one
die because she couldn’t afford the
expenses of treating her disease. She
moved across the state line and was
dropped by Blue Cross Blue Shield and
then was denied coverage because of
an existing condition. She suffered two
strokes and I took care of her for eight
years until she passed away. She was
61 years old. We do have some protec-
tions now for preexisting conditions
thanks to the Affordable Care Act, but
health care remains unaffordable for
many.
Some of Dr. Gleeson’s points are well
taken. We should have more competi-
tion for drug prices and across state
lines. Public pricing should be available
for services provided at medical centers.
Our politicians should have to live with
the same system the public has.
Now let me address what doesn’t
make sense to me.
If we remove regulations that guide
health care, we will end up with a sys-
tem that will provide no health care to
many of us who will be shut out of the
system altogether.
I can see the CEOs of all the major
corporations jumping up and down
with joy if employer provided health
insurance was done away with. Far
too many employers have found a way
to avoid providing this benefi t to their
workers. This would result in millions
not having health care.
Dr. Gleeson says medical physi-
cians and nurse practitioners have a
monopoly on health care. He says less
restrictions should allow more competi-
tion and less costs. I for one do not want
to have my health care provided by a
less qualifi ed practitioner. Would that
lead to better health care? I don’t think
so. We would soon have two health
care systems, one for the wealthy and
another less regulated and inferior to
those who could go to a “real doctor.”
Oh yes, the giant monster, Medicare.
I don’t know of a single senior citizen
who doesn’t appreciate this wonderful
access to medical care that many could
not afford if not for this service to our
senior population. I know of no one who
would “opt out.”
We already have a safety net for
those who cannot afford “a more
streamlined, effi cient system.” It’s called
Medicaid, and it needs to be expanded
to cover more people.
Dr. Gleeson’s fi nal thought is interest-
ing. He says no special medical care sys-
tem should be provided for the “special
people.” Unfortunately, if we would do
what Dr. Gleeson and his “the way it
could have been,” that is exactly what
we would have. Medical care for those
President Donald
Trump: The White House,
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Washington, D.C. 20500; 202-
456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; to
send comments, go to www.
whitehouse.gov/contact.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley:
D.C. offi ce: 313 Hart Senate
Offi ce Building, Washington,
D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-
3753. Fax: 202-228-3997.
Website: merkley.senate.
gov/. Email: merkley.senate.
gov/contact/. Portland offi ce:
One World Trade Center,
121 S.W. Salmon St. Suite
1250, Portland, OR 97204;
503-326-3386; fax 503-326-
2900. Pendleton offi ce: 310
S.E. Second St. Suite 105,
Pendleton 97801; 541-
278-1129; email elizabeth_
scheeler@merkley.senate.gov.
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A division of
making a six-fi gure income and the
undertaker for the rest of us.
We as a society must make some seri-
ous decisions. There are many proposals
being thrown out by politicians. They
all claim vote for me because I have the
answers. I don’t think this should be
political. The direction we go should not
be so divisive. The answers are complex
and should be thought about carefully.
We can’t go back and say this is what
could have been, but must go forward
in a new direction that will give all of us
affordable and competent health care.
It is a God-given right.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C.
offi ce: 221 Dirksen Senate
Offi ce Building, Washington,
D.C. 20510-3703; phone: 202-
224-5244; fax 202-228-2717.
Website: wyden.senate.gov.
Email: wyden.senate.gov/
contact/. La Grande offi ce: 105
Fir St., No. 210, La Grande,
OR 97850; 541-962-7691; fax,
541-963-0885; email kathleen_
cathey@wyden.senate.gov.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden
(2nd District): D.C. offi ce:
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce
Building, Washington, D.C.
20515-0001, 202-225-6730;
fax 202-225-5774. Website:
walden.house.gov/. Email:
walden.house.gov/e-mail-
greg. La Grande offi ce: 1211
Washington Ave., La Grande,
OR 97850; 541-624-2400, email
jorden.noyes@mail.house.gov.
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Michael Sasser, 71, lives in
Enterprise. He is a
retired member of
the IBEW Local 15.
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