Dear Jerome:

I can nothing but agree with you, the health care here in the US is only
for the well to do. I would rather have a socialized health care system
for all, even if you do not get all the latest nick nocks, instead of not
having one at all, like my son who is left with a $127,000.00 bill after
a 1998 lawn mover accident.

The employer had the safety switches removed and while moving my son fell
of the mower, which continued to run over his left foot, shredding his
big toe(way down into the foot), second toe and small part of the third
toe. Here in MO employers with under 5 people do not have to carry
workman,s comp insurance, which of course he did not carry. Second injury
fund did not have to pay either, because it was not illegal not to carry
insurance. Employer went into bankruptcy without notifying us or his
attorney. By the way the attorney was worth nothing, he failed to file a
timely suit against the employer, and neglected a lot of other details.
Applying for SSI and Medicaid, was without any success, he lost all the
way, going through all the stages. He was not needy and disabled enough I
guess, even so he had and still has absolutely no assets. Going in the
military on the other side was now denied, because he is disabled of
course.

So for all of his pain, and disability and emotional suffering he now is
also phasing bankruptcy, while his employer is never even held
accountable for a penny. The state of MO with their antiquate laws feels
not responsible either, I wrote allover the place, and our late governor
Mel Carnahan did not think to help either.

If we had insurance for everybody, and everybody would have to pay their
share for insurance by how much their income is, we would not have these
problems my son is facing now and ruins his future life.
Of course here in the USA it will never happen, because the majority of
the people are "I" people, just me, I do not want to may something for
others, they are greedy and self centered. The minority who is not, can
not win this battle, because the ones fighting them will most likely
never experience something like my son, and can therefor possibly not
understand what heartache this is.

Only if we had a great depression here again, and the majority of the
people would fall on really bad times, and only by forming a group to
survive would the mentality change, but even than do I have my doubts,
because even now the people who are not rich are against universal health
care. The ones I discussed this with were sooo concerned, if they would
never get really sick, but always had to pay their share for the others?
All I could say about these incredibly selfish and egotistical statements
was, well than you should thank Good that he blessed you with good
health, and be graceful and pay your share, so that others not so lucky
can at least be helped.

Sorry, but I had to write, I am so angry and upset about the system and
the uncaring people and politician here, that I wish I would have never
set foot in this country, because of marriage.

Elke
St. Louis, MO