When choosing a story written by The Associated Press, I would appreciate it if you chose a journalist who did his research.

Near the end of "Obama’s health care bill crawls through Congress," July 18, [reporter] David Espo describes the core effort of the bill as requiring insurance companies to offer policies to all willing buyers and preventing them from charging higher premiums for pre-existing conditions. This is the spin that has been painted on this bill since it was first discussed, and it clouds how the bill will, instead, bring about the end of private health care.

Right on Page 16 of the bill (Section 102A) is the gravestone for private health care: "Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1."

So, while this provides lip service for maintaining private health care, it prevents citizens with health care coverage the option to change their coverage or their health care company.

While many of us agree that something needs to be done with the health care system in America, this bill will lead to an entirely government-run health care system with no option of private health care. There are other options to look at to reduce the cost of health care without taking a hacksaw to what is, admittedly, the best available health care in the world.

Sgt. Ryan J. RubyCamp Slayer, Iraq

Migrated