To the editor:
Perhaps I can help Ms. Hackett (Letter, "Our health insurance and the uninsured," the Times, Monday, April 2).
First, auto insurance is only required if you own a vehicle and wish to drive it on public roads. You may drive your vehicle on your own property without insurance.
Yet the Affordable Care Act — a 2,700 page bill that I suspect not one congressman has read — requires one to purchase a health care insurance policy that meets the government's standards.
Where that borders on tyranny is — unlike auto insurance — one does not have the ability to choose from national companies across state lines, eliminating competition. It also allows many that are able to pay hospital fees and, or high health care insurance premiums to be accepted into state health coverage, designed for those that struggle below the poverty level — like the estate tax.
To complete the "Estate Tax" analogy, in this fishing community, imagine a father and his sons as owner operators of a large fishing vessel.
Suppose that the father, who worked hard with his sons, passes away, and his sons, in order to pay the estate tax, must sell the family boat, putting themselves out of business and lowering their families' standard and quality of life!
Those that have, will have not, in order for those that have not to have.
GERALD MAHIEU
Langsford Street, Gloucester
