Thank you and congratulations to Dr. Steele for having the courage to challenge the health care establishment and the Congress they have bought and paid for and which they have in their pocket. It is indeed a national embarrassment that we are the world’s only developed country that does not provide basic health care for its elderly and poor. Where in the fabric of freedom and democracy over which we wave so many flags is it written that the poor deserve health care less than do the rich?

It is particularly scandalous that there was in fact ample money to fund an improvement in health care for the elderly until President Bush used the surplus for a tax break to repay the wealthy who bought him the White House. The rich got a tax break and the poor once again were told to choose between food and prescription drugs. Now there’s something to wave a flag over.

Dan Lourie

Bar Harbor