This trend means that fewer jobs in our country will have the level of benefits we've come to expect - and more jobs won't include any benefits at all.

In Canada, the health-care costs are lower, but the quality of care is better. And the dealerships that sell the cars won't have to offer any health benefits either.

Not only is the quality of the care better than ours, but there is little or no overhead. The billing is simple, and the doctors can concentrate on giving better overall care.

Surveys show that between 70 and 80 percent of Americans want single-payer health insurance. There is far more complaining about the insurers we presently have then there is about government officials.

We know we can vote officials out, but the companies answer only to the stockholders. No one is thrilled about the fact that our country rates only 37th in terms of overall quality of health care, according to the World Health Organization's ranking of the world's national health systems.

As an example of how a national single-payer health-care system can promote efficiency, it takes less than 2 percent of Medicare funds to run the program. But a third of all other health-care funds go for insurance profits, advertising and bureaucracy.

Charity care is not a solution to the problem. Under this part of our current system, the poor go to emergency rooms and drive up costs for everyone else.

Because of the way that heath insurance is tied to employment now, millions more live in fear of the next contract negotiation, job loss or of making a change that might improve their lives.

AND MALPRACTICE awards should go down significantly if everyone were covered because there would be certainty that the victims would have their future needs paid for.

When health insurance began in the early 1940s, it was for catastrophic or unexpected expenses only. After World War II, employers wanted to offer something to attract good employees. The health insurance benefit took off, since the cost wasn't considered taxable income.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan has introduced House Bill 676 calling for a single-payer health plan. The measure is sponsored by 68 members of Congress and has the endorsement of over 100 labor groups.

Be sure to let your member of Congress know that you want to see single-payer health insurance become an issue in the November elections this year, including the Casey- Santorum Senate race.

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