LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The last two of seven HMOs will close at the end of the year, according to Thursday's paper [Extra, Sept. 28]. About 1,000 people out in the cold for insurance coverage. Of the original seven HMOs in Charles County, averaging about 500 per company, that is about 4,000 people that have been left with no medical or drug coverage.</br></br>Yesterday on a television morning show a lady 79 years old was explaining to the television host how she spent two to three hours a day collecting aluminum cans for 5 cents apiece in order to supplement her monthly income to eat something besides the oatmeal she eats every day. Her monthly annuity is $800 and her medical bill is $300 a month plus. So she must collect cans.</br></br>Now here is a 79-year-old lady who stands a chance of being mugged in some alley. She has put aside her dignity and pride to survive. I wonder how many Congress people would like their mother, brother, sister or son to be exposed to the same thing? At the same time our Congress is on the Hill playing partisan games with legislation that might help us while we suffer.</br></br>Folks, we have got to do something for ourselves. Most of us are too old (I'm 80) to walk protesting picket lines, and we do not have money to have elaborate protest signs printed. So all we have is our vote. On Nov. 7, vote.</br></br>We can be vicious. We can be mean. Or we can be kind and fair. But we can also be judgmental by the use of our "X" in the voting booth. Put it in the right place.