In response to Rich Lowry’s “Laws of the universe rule out Obamacare,” it should be noted that upon reading carefully, Lowry’s piece argues for health care reform, especially reform with a public option.

Lowry bemoans Obamacare — his term for reformed health care — discussing raising taxes and increasing deficits, whining about how “New insurance regulations intended to benefit the sick and uninsured will increase premiums for everyone else.”

The problem doesn’t lie in taking care of the country’s sick or uninsured; it lies in doing so with health care reform that ignores a public option. Premiums have been steadily increasing without covering the sick or uninsured.

Here in Maine, where two insurance giants control 88 percent of the market, Mainers saw premiums rise 89.7 percent from 2004 to 2007, according to the Maine People’s Alliance. In that same time frame, insurance companies’ profits rose by 89.2 percent. The inclusion of a public option in health care reform is the vital piece to checking the insurance companies’ profits and greed.

By breaking the insurance monopoly with a not-for-profit public option, competition will increase and consumer costs will be lowered.

If the Senate and House are going to focus on real reform, the debate needs to include discussion of a public option. Sen. Susan Collins has said she might vote for health care reform, and as a taxpayer and voter, I truly hope she will stand for real reform with a public option during the debate on the Senate floor.

Shanna Rogers, Lewiston