To the Editor:

When I came to America from Canada in 1961, I was shocked to find that Americans didn’t have universal health care. It was tragic then, and has become more tragic.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed the unfairness that patients like those featured in your July 29 front-page article unfortunately experience.

I’m still shocked that Americans haven’t yet realized the vital need to remove profit from health care, to move to a single-payer system, to emphasize prevention and to extend access to all regardless of income or status.

Celia Menczel
Walnut Creek, Calif., July 29, 2007
The writer is a retired registered nurse.

Note from KBJ: Replace “health care” with “food,” “shelter,” “clothing,” or “fuel” and see how ridiculous this letter sounds. Is there a relevant difference between health care and these other goods that would make the analogy a poor one? In other words, is health care special? If so, why?