Life, sold for profit

Our Constitution guarantees each American the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The first of these, life, is being sold to corporations whose mission is to profit, and is driven by greed and apathy.

Our health care system is an oxymoron. Care is being provided when people are denied accessibility to life-saving medicines and treatments.

The cost of insulin has more than doubled over the past two years, and testing supplies have increased in cost, as well. People with Type I/Insulin dependent diabetes are rationing and cutting back on their doses because they are unable to afford their medication, and they are dying.

If pharmaceutical costs are not reined in, many more people will die.

Our politicians are elected by the voters to represent their interests; they are bribed by corporations to represent theirs.

I would like to challenge all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, to stop accepting bribes. Not taking “bribes” from pharmaceutical corporations will not kill a politician or anyone else. But allowing continued price gouging has, and will continue to do so until this practice is stopped.

Gail Cory-Betz

Newport, Wash.