many of my colleagues would have the American people believe that a government-run, Big Brother-like health care delivery system is not only necessary, but rather a must. This ill-informed argument is almost always supported by the word ``crisis.'' In my estimation of this appraisal, crisis implies panic and bigger government--a lack of faith in the individual. I believe that the United States has the finest health care in the world. Our employer-based system covers between 85 to 87 percent of all Americans, and in my home State of Michigan over 90 percent are covered. As a former small business owner, I understood all too well the state of our Nation's health care delivery system. Day-in and day-out, I had the opportunity to help my employees and clients deal with the crush of burdensome paperwork, interpreting confusing policy language, and making sure that their health dollars were not wasted. Now as a Member of Congress who campaigned on reform, specifically health care reform, I am still wrestling with these and other equally difficult health issues.
Editor's note · Context
Addressing health care reform and government involvement in health care delivery.
Share
More from Joseph Knollenberg
President Clinton has announced that he supports U.N. Secretary General Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali's call for expanding the scope of NATO airstrikes in Bosnia. Throughout this tragic crisis in Bosnia, American policy has been made by leaders…
today, the House will take up the much- publicized ban on so-called assault weapons. It is important to understand that, despite the way it looks, this debate has almost nothing to do with assault weapons themselves. Military-style…
Frankly, I think this is maybe one way of cleansing this process. I think maybe the openness provided by the avenue that the gentleman has brought to the floor, the A to Z process, is one that might overall help the entire structure. I am…
when thinking of the President's health care reform plan, I am reminded of a quote from a military man in Vietnam who said: ``It became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it.'' This kind of muddled thinking is what drives the…





