Readers Write for Sunday, July 26

My heart goes out to Mike Harris in his dual struggle with cancer and the insurance companies (front page, July 19). I wish him luck. His story, repeated by millions across the country, makes clear why a national health plan is gaining traction in public opinion polls. Insurance companies should not be the arbiters of who receives treatment and who doesn't.

Unemployment should not be a life-threatening condition.

THOMAS R. SMITH, RIVER FALLS, WIS.

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Lori Sturdevant's column ("Expanding a broken system?" July 19) states, "Reward doctors for improving the health of their patients.... Simple enough." Really?

The phrase, "simple enough" portrays physicians as people who have poor intentions when it comes to patient-care outcomes. It implies that if we wanted to fix the problem, we would have by now. I take great pride in the work I do on behalf of my patients. I eagerly accept that responsibility. Sometimes no matter what I do, it is not good enough.

Patients have a responsibility to also do what is best for these outcomes. And sometimes nobody has control over the human body, and horrible things happen. All things considered, does the solution still seem "simple enough"?

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While it sounds good on the surface, there seems to be something inherently wrong with the idea that health care "providers" should be compensated for keeping people healthy.

No one asks to be sick and, yes, some of us could do a better job maintaining our health. But when you get seriously ill, the last thing you need is a physician who is rewarded for keeping people well. (It sounds a lot like insurance companies denying coverage to people with "preexisting conditions," people who need insurance the most.)

Here is an idea. If all the money we pour into health care premiums is banked in our names, tax-free, over the years, we could well afford to pay for the majority of our basic health care needs. We could see the physicians we want to see and introduce some healthy competition for our dollars. We might even have enough to help others. We could purchase a high-deductible policy for truly catastrophic need.

Unfortunately, the health insurance industry will make sure this doesn't happen, as they continue to deny us needed procedures and treatments to make sure they turn a profit.

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Former Sen. Dave Durenberger's claim (Opinion Exchange, July 21) that health care reform would be improved if it were delayed a year or two makes sense only if the current crop of Republican senators were, like Durenberger himself and former Republican Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, interested in governing.

However, as Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has made clear the current Republican objection is not about getting better health care for the American people, but sabotaging President Obama.

This is consistent with a party whose latest accomplishment is the pointless and spiteful delay of the confirmation vote on Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

JOHN SHERMAN, MOORHEAD, MINN.

An article in the July 23 Star Tribune, "Suspect in Mexican slayings is arrested," cites Armando Romero as a suspected killer in Mexico. The article also states that he is a Mexican national.

Then, I ask, how did he register to vote in 2003? Oops, all we have to do is show up at the polling place with a bill or neighbor to verify where we live. I also thought you had to be a legal resident to obtain a driver's license (he obtained one in 2006).

Perhaps we should keep him here and prosecute him for voter fraud, unless the polling judge or recount official found his ballot and discounted it. But, then again, the politicians do go after the votes, don't they?

ROBERT GJERTSON, FRIDLEY

It will cost as much as $100,000 to add "In God We Trust" to the visitors center at the U.S. Capitol ("God and government is ever the volatile mix," July 23). Perhaps the Metropolitan Airports Commission could save millions by hiring that company to do the new airport signage.