'Single-payer' health care is affordable

I must thank Mary Gibson for her June 24 letter, "Problems exist with nonprofit health care," because it gives me a chance to explain the meaning of phrase "single-payer, government funded, privately delivered, nonprofit healthcare system."

The kind of health care system referred to here is simply the most common kind of health care financing system used by other developed nations.

This includes France, Germany, Denmark, Canada and Taiwan. These countries pool all the money used to pay for health care (the single-payer), but the health care workers who actually deliver the care are not employed by the government. They work in private clinics and doctors offices. This is what the "privately delivered" part of the phrase means. This arrangement has the advantage of giving patients freedom to choose their health care providers.

Some developed nations have a different system described as "publicly funded and publicly delivered" health care. In these nations, health care workers are directly employed by the government. Notable examples include England and Spain.

Both arrangements save money and provide health care to everyone.

Rich Lague, Corvallis

Corvallis Knights game was great

More than 1,000 people showed up at the newly expanded Goss Stadium on Friday (June 20) to see the Corvallis Knights take a win over the Kelowna Falcons in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League.

Following the game was a fantastic fireworks show.

College-age young men from various states with good work habits and strong desire make up the teams. Watch for them; some will make it to the pros.

Entertaining activities between innings cater to kids' tastes and participation. After the games, those who want to are invited to run the bases.

What a great family and community exposure. My neighbor, Myrna, and I are awfully glad the Knights came to Corvallis.

Dottie Jackson, Corvallis

November brings our chance to start anew

"You know them by what they do, not by what they say," the Bible reminds us. People make choices every day. We have the free will to decide what we will do with our time, money and thoughts. What we do with this freedom determines our future.

Our national future will be determined by the election in November. Our country is out of balance. We can all see the consequences of our past actions. As citizens, we must decide what future we want.

Equilibrium is essential for a healthy society and equilibrium is essential within our democratic form of government.

For too long the scales of balance have been weighted with ill will, not goodwill; injustice, not justice; lies, not honesty; fear, not courage; brutality, not humanity; creating enemies, not friends; greed, not sharing; taking, not giving; hopelessness, not hope; death, not life and war, not peace.

In November, we will all know who we are as a people. We will know if we are the light-bringer that we thought or just a cloud of continued darkness, pain and suffering.

From now until November, we can use our free will to help create equilibrium.

Each grain on a scale makes a difference. On what side of the scale will you decide to give your weight?

David Anderer, Albany