Readers Write for Thursday, Nov. 12

I received my Blue Cross renewal for 2010 this week. Another 14 percent increase! As a small-business owner, I cannot understand how anyone says we can't afford to reform health care. I say we can't afford not to reform health care. At the rate of these increases every year, only the wealthiest Americans and government employees will be able to have health insurance.

BERNIE WEBER, FARMINGTON

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The Nov. 11 article on the "blitz from both sides" in the health care reform battle did not mention the $1.4 million a day that the health insurance industry spends lobbying Congress. It's obvious that the grass-roots efforts of people fighting for health care don't begin to have that kind of money. The watered-down bill that passed the House reflects the lopsided influence of money from the insurance industry.

Until we have effective campaign finance reform, money will run the show in Washington, and the will of the people will continue to be subverted by the deep pockets of the powerful corporations.

TERRY BURKE, ST. LOUIS PARK

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DON LACKNER, FRIDLEY

Sen. Scott Dibble's Nov. 9 commentary about General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) is missing several key facts.

Dibble states that health insurance for more than 30,000 Minnesotans on GAMC will be eliminated. However, on Nov. 6, we announced that people enrolled in the GAMC program when the program funding ends on March 1, 2010, will be transitioned to MinnesotaCare. This action by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) provides the greatest benefit to enrollees and maintains their health care coverage. The senator's commentary may have been written before this action was announced.

Counties will pay MinnesotaCare premiums for the newly transferred enrollees for up to six months, depending on the time remaining in the GAMC enrollee's eligibility period. At the end of the eligibility period, enrollees must renew their eligibility and assume responsibility for their premium payment, which is about $5 per month.

During last year's legislative session, the governor proposed reforming GAMC, which has been the fastest-growing state health care program, increasing by 36 percent in the latest two-year budget cycle. The governor's proposal would have saved money and preserved coverage, but the Legislature did not adopt this proposal.

CAL R. LUDEMAN, ST. PAUL;

COMMISSIONER,

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

If Katherine Kersten's Nov. 8 commentary on gay marriage ("The perilous, slippery slope of gay marriage") weren't so sadly homophobic and ill-informed, it would be laughable. There are so many half-truths and untruths that I lost count.

For example, "Sex between men and women creates new human beings." No, sex between men and women occasionally creates an infant, but it takes responsible and loving parenting for an infant to become a responsible and loving adult.

THE REV. RICHARD SELLERS,

MINNEAPOLIS

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Katherine Kersten may not like same-sex marriage, but she is dead wrong when she claims that "across the world and throughout history, [marriage has] been exclusively male-female."

Marriage between people with the same genetic endowment has been practiced since the beginning of recorded time in both ancient and modern societies. There are many, many examples.

The American Anthropological Association issued a statement some years ago denouncing the incorrect notion that marriage is exclusively male-female among human societies. It is a scientific fact that such marriage arrangements have been institutionalized for millennia without affecting the institution of heterosexual marriage.

Kersten should get her facts straight before making pronouncements based on her own fantasies about human nature.

WILLIAM O. BEEMAN, MINNEAPOLIS;

PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

A Nov. 10 letter writer states, "If the Sack cartoon implies Muslims will now experience fear and prejudice, they should blame Maj. Nidal Hasan."