I’m writing in response to a Sun Journal headline regarding the contract between Androscoggin County and its employees (Oct. 20).

As most people know, with the possible exception of elected officials, health care financing is broken at the federal level, but that malfunction affects every person in this country; some more than others. Good people, such as teachers and firefighters, are put in the terrible position of being at odds with their employers and, ultimately, with the folks they are employed to serve, over access to health care. A small business in Lewiston pays $36,000 per year because the employer believes his employees should not have to worry about access to health care should they need it.

The United States is the only country in the world that uses the insurance industry as fiscal intermediaries standing between the prospective patient and the fine health care offered in places such as Maine. As long as the insurance industry is allowed to maintain that outrageous role in health care financing, people at the local level will bear the burden. In other words, the public will continue to have to pick up the pieces after labor contracts fall apart and businesses are unable to provide their employees with reasonable benefits.

Elected officials need to be reminded of what it is like to grow up in some parts of town.

Jim Tierney, Auburn