Need the facts on Obamacare, not Bible stories

On Sunday, Dec. 22, I read the op-ed written by Mr. James Ahrens, a Montana health-care professional. He wrote “facts only” from experience, knowledge and complete honesty. It was the most informative and honest article written by a Montana citizen on the Affordable Care Act that I have read to date.

Then I read the letter to the editor (written on the same date) by Rep. Jerry O’Neil, who knows little or nothing about the same subject matter. The only facts Mr. O’Neil presented were words quoted from the Bible. Then he, like others, tries to use biblical writings as an argument against the Affordable Care Act. Other than the good and evil that existed in biblical times and still exists today, how can the Bible be used as an argument for or against the Affordable Care Act?

The population of our nation is around 330 million. I don’t think the population where Jesus lived was anywhere near that number. How many doctors and their offices were there then? Were there prescription drugs and drug companies then? Were there thousands of hospitals then as there are today? It is a much different world today, and the laws of the land need to reflect those many differences.

There are many states that have, or are in the process of implementing, the expansion of Medicaid. And like never before, thousands of citizens of those states now have insurance and thus have access to good health care at their hospitals and clinics.

Montana, too, has many fine hospitals, but our Republican state legislators are denying thousands of hard-working Montana citizens the right to this needed health care by voting against Medicaid expansion.

Were these hospitals built and staffed just to serve the rich and those lucky enough to work for a business or agency that provides health-care insurance for their employees? Of course the answer is no.

Mr. O’Neil then goes on to say that those who think like me and others are “socialists and communists amongst us.” If thinking that every man, woman and child in this country should have good, affordable health care, if thinking that the poor as well as the rich should have access to our wonderful hospitals, Mr. O’Neil, if these are the thoughts of a “socialist,” then call me a proud Montana socialist, but don’t you dare call me a communist.

I wore the uniform of this country’s military for 10 years, prepared to fight communists’ rule so that people like you and others like you would continue to have the right to free speech, even if that speech contains lies and misinformation so often used to describe the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. O’Neil, your words disgust me. It is my opinion that if the so-called Obamacare was instead called Bushcare, Reagancare or Romneycare, you and your so-called conservative state legislators would be endorsing this legislation rather than blocking it, and thus blocking good health care for thousands of hard-working Montana citizens. After all, Obamacare was copied off Romneycare, which is very, very successful in Massachusetts.

If you haven’t read the letters to the editor referred to, please seek them out and read them.

Leonard C. Haines is a resident of Columbia Falls.