It is not interesting, or perhaps ironic, that (Jack Hamilton’s) column and my letter appeared on the same page of the July 31 North Kitsap Herald? You asked “what is the health care problem?” and I answered your question.

In short we Americans pay more than anyone else in the world for our health care, yet we receive only mediocre return on our money. I must correct one thing in my letter. No, we are not 47th in the among the nations of the world in terms of life expectancy. A 2009 estimate published in the CIA World Factbook shows that we have slipped even further — we are now No. 50.

What distinguishes us from most of the developed countries of the world is that we depend on profit-driven insurance companies to finance our health care. I believe that is the primary source of the problem. Health care should be considered a basic human right, just as education is so considered. It is time we move to a single-payer system, join the rest of the world, and provide better care at costs we can afford. I would much prefer to see that even the least of our citizens has basic care, instead of insurance company profits and executive bonuses.

I do agree with on one thing — there is need for tort reform. A single-payer system could be designed to control, if not eliminate, that problem.

Although I must disagree with you from time to time, I do enjoy your column. Keep it up.

Robert Maule

Poulsbo