So now most people are happy to get free health care. The Dirigo Health program has been signed into law. With little or no debate, it was rushed through the legislature and signed by Gov. Baldacci. But is it really free? Businesses, hospitals and doctors (and consequently patients) will pay for it. This plan appears to be the same program they have in Canada. It has not worked there. What makes people think it will work here?

An article in the Sun-Journal on July 23 (conveniently hidden on page A3) stated that a busload of about 15 people came from St. John, New Brunswick, to Bangor to get medical care and drugs they could not get readily in Canada. They say it requires months of waiting to get appointments for procedures they need. The drugs some of them are here to get are not available in Canada. One Canadian doctor said that “health care delayed is health care denied.” The point is that universal health care is not working in Canada. Do you really think we are so much smarter that we will be able to make it work here when they could not?

The whole point is this: Canadians come here for much needed, quality health care because it is not available in Canada. Where will we go for it when it becomes unavailable here? We won’t be able to go to Canada. Maybe Massachusetts? Or perhaps Mexico? Now, there is a solution for you.

Ernest J. Mandy, Oxford

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