The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 17, 2009

Your View — Quist’s relationship with Medicare begs explanation

Richard Robbins, Mankato

As Al Quist fashions his own health care reform position in preparation for running against Rep. Tim Walz, I hope he’ll include a statement about his own relationship with Medicare.

Does he feel the way Ronald Reagan felt in the 1960s, that Medicare would lead to socialized medicine, that the government would end up telling doctors where to practice and other Americans where to live and how to make a living? Or does he feel the way Ronald Reagan felt in the 1980s, when as president he recognized belatedly the value of the program and protected Medicare as an important piece of the social safety net?

If Quist has Medicare himself, I hope he’ll talk about his own experience with a government-run public option, and if he feels any less free because of it. If he has Medicare, I hope he’ll explain why he should have access to a successful, low-cost, low-overhead government-run program, and why no one else should have anything similar.

Finally, if he cannot support public options of any sort, I hope he’ll show the courage of his convictions and explain why he supports the immediate abolition of Medicare and Veterans Administration health coverage.

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