Many concerned over cost of health reform

Todd Hartwell is a self-proclaimed sucker for charity. He purchases Shamrocks for muscular dystrophy research in March and makes a habit of dropping coins into countertop collection jars when his fellow Fox Valley residents are in need.

Hartwell feels bad for Americans who are uninsured and he does not believe health care in the United States is perfect. He is not, however, willing to pay more through taxes to expand health care to cover everyone.

In fact, Hartwell believes that being asked to do so is a direct violation of his constitutional rights.

Hartwell is a volunteer organizer of the Tea Party Patriots chapter in Elgin.

His Fox Valley group is one of more than 20 across the state whose members participate in meetings, petition signings and other events in protest of big government. Members view the federal stimulus and increased public aid packages such as public option health care as wasteful. They also think the programs contribute to unnecessary growth of government, which in turn infringes on individual rights.

Hartwell draws a hard line between his soft spot for those in need and his rights as a citizen.

"It's not the government's job" to pay for health care, he said. "When is it right to come with force to demand money from me and my children to provide a service for another person?"

As a nation, America agrees that taking care of the underprivileged is important. One of our national symbols even welcomes "your tired, your poor."

The results of a recent Gallup poll published in USA Today found that despite the poor economy and rising unemployment, Americans continue to donate money to charitable causes. More than 65 percent of adults polled in September said they gave to charities within the past 12 months.

Americans are split, however, on just how to take care of those huddled masses, especially when it involves health care.

That is evident in the Fox Valley, too. When The Courier-News recently invited readers to weigh in on the issue, the responses were as varied as the numerous health care proposals being floated around Washington, D.C.

Anita Klein of Burlington wrote that her ideal health care reform would include a public option to provide the uninsured with doctor visits and preventative health care.

Lois Reichenbach of Carpentersville wants to take health care a step further, with government-funded universal care, "all free to all citizens," she said.

But other readers strongly disagree.

"People need to be responsible, work and pay their own way, especially illegals," said one.

Margaret Watson of Elgin is "not for national health care."

"The government should stay out of health care," she said.

The divide has been magnified as President Obama pushes forward with his goal of passing a comprehensive health care reform by the end of the year.

Committees in the House and Senate have approved separate health care reform bills in the past few months. Now, the challenge for lawmakers lies in merging each bill, with a continued debate over providing a public option.

For Fox Valley residents who oppose expanded government-funded health care, money is a concern.

"Spending is already out of control," wrote Elgin reader Barbara Gieseke. "The national debt has tripled since this administration has been in, and I do not want to see our country go bankrupt!"

Larkin Mead of Woodstock has similar sentiments. He said even though he was denied coverage at one point, he would not be willing to pay more taxes to ensure better health care for all Americans.

"We have the best health care system in the world," Mead said. "Health insurance is not a right, it is a privilege."

Some readers also are concerned that a public option would mean fewer choices for patients.

"If you have a government big enough to give it to you, you have a government big enough to take it away from you," the Tea Party's Hartwell said.

He believes high salaries and fierce competition for profits in the health care industry actually result in quality, and in passionate care providers.

"I'd rather have the care I have now and the compassion that I get from my doctors than the care and compassion I get from the people at the DMV," he said.