Tom McClintock's Nov 17 letter, "Most people without health insurance aren't choosing not to buy it," misunderstood at least part of what I wrote about health insurance.

I never said all 47 million uninsured don't have it because they don't want it; I said millions (estimates range up to 12 million) made that decision. This has been reported repeatedly on the networks and in print media, and is verifiable simply by googling the topic.

Most of these people are childless individuals or couples ages 18-to-34 who have determined that the cost far outweighs the benefit to them. They pay medical bills out-of-pocket, like any other expense, and make choices to do other things with their remaining income.

Congress has told them that their behavior is irrational; Congress knows what is best for them, and Congress will make decisions for them. I reiterate that this is a gross insult.

With respect to cost, the Congressional Budget Office's projection for the first 10 years (which includes 10 years of revenues but only 6 years of spending) is approximately $1 trillion.

Congress, which has increased federal spending by a staggering 62 percent just since 2003, tells us that they will make spending cuts elsewhere to cover it. And we're not supposed to think that statement is ludicrous and insulting?

If we were to hook up every congressman who voted for this bill to a polygraph machine to see how many of them believe that, it is doubtful that enough would pass to field a baseball team.

John Brenan

Corvallis

Related

• Letter: Everyone pays health costs of the uninsured (Nov. 25)