One of the important issues today is the health care of the American people. I agree that everyone should receive the best care available regardless of their income or social status. I’m not sure that a national plan is in the best interest of the American people.

Whenever the federal, state or local government is involved, prices increase, and the quality decreases. Look at our infrastructure as an example. We see long waiting periods for people seeking Social Security disability and veterans seeking service-related disability.

Some veterans are waiting up to a year to see a doctor according, to news articles I’ve read. The wait can be two years for Social Security disability rulings.

Some people seeking state aid may reach starving and/or homeless status before funds are available. Usually back pay will come, but how much have people lost by then? A home? Even more health?

How long will the waiting periods be with a national health care system? Add 200 million or so to the already backlogged system and see what happens.

The government (state and federal) must proactively streamline everything before it starts adding to this broken system. Fraud will be rampant without thousands more government employees to constantly monitor the system.

We’ve seen in Indiana that outsourcing leaves much to be desired. This nation needs a system that will allow everyone to receive the health care needed for survival. We should not consider “survival of the fittest” as part of society today.

JAMES S. HENDON Fort Wayne