GOP scare tactics spread

Don Graham’s letter published on Oct. 1 is puzzling. I’m not sure where Mr. Graham gets his information, but I suspect it’s from Republican scare tactics. He claims that his wife might have to enter a lottery to see a doctor in Canada and that her tests might be delayed several months. A study by the American Medical Student Association found that, “In Canada, waiting lists do not exist for emergency procedures.” According to Statistics Canada, the average wait time for nonemergency tests is three weeks.

He repeats the claim that in England, his wife would be refused care after age 71. Not true, the only thing that changes in the National Health system is that she wouldn’t get a routine reminder for breast cancer screening. If she asked she would get the test.

He says that half the doctors would quit if “Obamacare” were implemented. The New England Journal of Medicine poll showed that 73 percent of doctors support the public option.

Mr. Graham is scared by imaginary threats. He should be scared that the Republicans will reach their goal of privatizing Medicare.

Jeff Bourget

Coeur d’Alene