In this era of fake news and propaganda, I am compelled to address the June 30 letter written by Linda Nelson, which communicated false information about 3rd Congressional District candidate Carolyn Long.
Nelson wrote that Long’s proposed health care solution is ineffective because she “merely wants to tweak the existing system (Affordable Care Act) — not overhaul it.” Nelson also accused Long of being “invested in pharmaceutical companies” through her husband’s employment with Sanofi-Aventis — and therefore isn’t interested in fixing “obscene profiteering by Big Pharma and insurance companies.”
Nothing could be further from the truth! Long’s comprehensive proposal to fix our broken health care system has six key components: (1) repair the damage to the ACA caused by the Republican party, (2) stabilize the market (that again the Republican party has destabilized, largely through destroying the individual mandate, which has driven up premiums because it has messed with insurance risk pools), (3) provide a public option to expand coverage to more people, (4) work toward coverage for everyone, (5) address price gouging by the pharmaceutical industry, and (6) ensure that mental health coverage has parity with physical health coverage.
This is characteristic of Long’s pragmatic approach to addressing issues. She studies complex root causes and effects. Then, she proposes comprehensive solutions to implement over time, which is the only way to effectively address health care.
And, the truth about Long’s investments (available through public disclosure of her financial statement) reveals that she personally owns no pharmaceutical stocks. Her husband’s Sanofi-Aventis stock holdings are less than $1,000 as a salesman for the company.
Let’s all make sure that we have our facts straight and avoid sharing misinformation. Our democracy depends on it.
Janet Birgenheier
Ridgefield
