I recently corresponded with our Congressman. I asked him not to support the House bill to overhaul health care in our country. He voted with Ms. Pelosi in support of the President inspite of the huge financial burden which willed be placed on our taxpayers and country.
I suggested to him that to fix our health care system we need to move away from HMO type plans and go back to managing our own health care needs as we did 50 years ago. Did you know that in 1960 we paid 47% of health care costs out of pocket? Some of you may remember how little of your family's income went to health care. This is because we managed for ourselves. We didn't run off to the clinic for every little thing. Don't you think we should go back to that kind of system? Don't you think you can manage your own money better than than federal government?
I believe our Congressman is totally out of touch with us. That is not surprising. Congressman Jim was been a Washingtonian since 1974! In his 2008 campaign for re-election he raised 80% of is funds in Washington!
It is time for new blood.
Rick Sathre
Rick: Your comments reflect exactly what many of us have been hearing the past few years. Some 8th district residents have contacted his offices, some were rewarded with a form letter in return, explaining he knows what's good for his constituents. Others received no response. Still others questioned why he wouldn't hold town hall meetings last summer. Oberstar responded he didn't feel a need to. He likes one-on-one contact with people.
As a former long-time supporter of Jim, I am very disappointed he chose not to meet with all of us through the town hall process. It comes across to me as a sign of arrogance and narcissism and cockiness knowing he can keep his seat as long as he wants because, in his mind, people will always vote for him no matter what he does. And he is right. Other than pro-gun, pro-life, and pro-union, he represents people in urban America better than he represents us. I don't care about the pork he doles out or high-speed rail and bicycles.
If Rod Grams, who as U.S. Senator, visited our immediate area at least 12 times during his term couldn't beat Jim up here, nobody can. You get the government you deserve. Put your head down, says Jim's behavior, and don't worry about what I do. See you on the 4th of July at the parades.
I am compelled to write the Rep. Oberstar does represent me in the 8th district and that I pleaded with him to support health care reform. He is not out of touch with all of us! I thanked him for his vote.
It is totally unrealistic to think that anyone these days could pay for health care out of our own pockets when one considers the current cost of health care. We need reform to manage costs of health care and insurance; we need reform so that more people can obtain insurance; we need reform of the current payment system; we need reform so that unnecessary tests & trips to the doctors do not fill the pockets of the health care system & its providers. We also need reform in patient attitudes so that more people live a healthier life style to not burden the health care system and so that patients do not push doctors to order tests & medications that are not necessary.
The current health care bill being debated is not perfect but it is a start in the right direction.
If you want to go back to 1960 go ahead. The medical industry today has so much more to offer and cures so many more diseases than it did in 1960. In 1960 my doctor had an xray machine and maybe a few other small devices to try to diagnose illness. Today they have a cadray of implements that cost millions of dollars. That is the reason doctors no longer have their own clinic or offices, they cant aford the tools. I am disappointed that you think this problem is so easy by just going back to the 60's; it just shows that you dont have a clue!!! I hope that Congressman Oberstar thinks that too.