Porter Goss: “Americans want more health security--but they are not willing to trade their freedom to get it. The President's promise…”

“Americans want more health security--but they are not willing to trade their freedom to get it. The President's promise of ``health care that can never be taken away'' looks warm and fuzzy--so does a porcupine. Ask the thousands of veterans in my district who--while promised health care for life after serving their country--now must drive 150 miles for the nearest VA hospital if space is available. The only outpatient clinic available to 150,000 of them was designed for 40,000 cases a year. It is now overwhelmed with requirements for 60,000 cases a year. Ask the millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid who are beneficiaries, who cannot find a participating physician to serve them. Let us face it, Government-run health care systems have a poor track record, and they are driving the American taxpayer into the poorhouse. Most people are not fooled by impossible promises and plastic gimmicks. As the debate heats up, most Americans will not be bullied by the bully pulpit. After all, polls show more people are happy with their health care then they are with the Clinton administration. Of course, both could be improved, and there are choices, because this is America.”