Reforming Health Care

Washington

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Steven Pearlstein's candid assessment of the political climate in his Jan. 24 column was refreshing. He's right. Enough of the partisanship: It's time to embrace the opportunity to start a serious debate on health-care reform.

While President Bush's proposal to cover what may be as many as 48 million uninsured leaves many questions unanswered, it is one idea among many that can help us move toward meaningful solutions.

No suggestion is above constructive criticism, but we will never solve our nation's pressing health and long-term financial security problems if we don't start looking beyond partisanship and begin to collectively debate new ideas. Working together, we can accomplish so much. Divided, we will fail.

MARK KITCHENS

Director of Media Relations and Strategy

AARP

Washington