The Times Argus 

The latest Times Argus/Rutland Herald editorial, “Sanders’ Challenge,” once again seems to paint Bernie Sanders as an unrealistic “populist” versus Hillary Clinton, the pragmatic realist. One example is the ACA (Obamacare) which Hillary Clinton wants to improve incrementally while Bernie wants to replace with a “single payer” Medicare-for-all health care plan.

Health care in the U.S. is one of the most glaring examples of inequality, and is a core issue of Bernie’s campaign. After 70-plus years of incremental reforms, including the ACA, since end of World War II we still have 29 million without health insurance, along with tens of millions who are underinsured due to high deductibles. If this isn’t bad enough, we now pay at least double or more per capita for health care compared to every other advanced country. Should we have to wait another seven decades of incremental reforms until we have affordable universal care?

We should question the fairness and inequality of a system where the quality of health care depends on the size of your bank balance or an employer’s benefit program. If enough of us do, in spite of what some pundits think is not politically possible, we can have a truly affordable universal health care system regardless of the insurance industry’s political influence and/or the reluctance of politicians to challenge the status quo. “Medicare for All” is long overdue 50 years after it became a reality for seniors.

Jerry Kilcourse
Montpelier