Kudos to the Whidbey Island Tea Party for hosting the Citizens Forum on Health Care Reform. Panelists representing several organizations provided a comprehensive look at the two bills currently being discussed in Congress and detailed the impacts these bills will have on health care, health care coverage, individual choice, individual and business taxes, and matters of privacy. All citizens need to educate themselves on these proposed reforms and understand the ramifications of such sweeping change.

No one denies that health care/insurance coverage needs to be reformed. But changes of this magnitude are not necessary to reform our present system. We do not need a national data base containing the most personal information on each of us. If you had concerns about the government having access to your phone records and listening in on overseas calls, you should be alarmed with them having your health records. If you feel that health care decisions are between you, your family and your doctors, you should be alarmed that a government health panel will also be involved in determining what care you will receive.

Once you have done your homework on this very important issue, make sure you notify your representatives about your conclusions. Tell them that you support health care reform but not in such a dramatic way. Demand that they clearly identify each problem needing to be fixed in our current system and offer solutions and changes in certain laws that will accomplish it.

A special thank you goes to each of the panelists: Roger Stark, M.D., from the Washington Policy Center, State Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, Debbie and Sam Cunningham from CGI, Inc., Kathryn Serkes from AAPS and Donna Steward from the Association of Washington Businesses.

Thank you, as well, to the men and women from North Whidbey Middle School who arranged the set-up and removal of the tables, chairs and media equipment. This is a beautiful school and you have done a wonderful job in keeping it that way.

Cheryl Smith

Coupeville