“American values” no longer extend to the least among us. The proposed health care replacement plan is the equivalent of elected officials shutting their eyes and putting their hands over their ears, singing “La, La, La” in their heads, while our elderly parents, sick brothers, sisters and children die in our arms. The plan would shift health insurance costs from everyone to our most vulnerable and needy folks.

The proposed plan would force states to come up with ways to fund the care for millions of soon-to-be uninsured. The states would, in turn, be forced to pass along the ballooning health care burden to property owners. Maine is a rural state with a significantly older demographic and a population of hard-working Americans of modest means. They can ill afford that burden.

Aging in place will not be a viable option for Maine’s seniors on fixed incomes. Likewise, owning a modest home, feeding a family and having health insurance for that family will be a luxury unattainable for many Mainers under the proposed plan.

Instead of having multiple electronic devices with expensive data plans for every member of their family, elected officials should choose to be compassionate toward the least among us by getting rid of one of those expensive devices and, instead, choose to buy health insurance through the ACA.

Oh, I forgot, members of Congress have really great comprehensive health insurance, which the public pays for. Who are we to ask the same of them?

Kristin Roy, Otisfield