I can tell when a letter hits pay-dirt; the usual conservative reality-deniers will line up to deride it. My recent letter pointed out advantages of universal health care in America, how it could reduce unemployment, encourage entrepeneurship and stimulate the economy. In the letter I discussed universal, affordable care and mentioned Medicare for all (my personal preference). The naysayers criticized my defense of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), something I actually didn't mention in my letter at all. But when have facts ever gotten in the way of Russell C. Fette, Roddy D. Riggs or other defenders of the status quo?

The biggest problems with health care actually stem from rampant corporate profiteering, not government oversight. And what's the Republican plan for health care reform anyway -- besides eliminating Medicare and Medicaid? Consider some facts:

* Millions of Americans already benefit from Obamacare, including small businesses providing health care to their employees.

* The "individual mandate" was a Republican idea originally championed by the Heritage Foundation.

* The CBO has cut the estimate of the ACA's costs and it'll still be hundreds of billions less than not having it.

*Sections of the ACA regarding individual mandates and insurance pools don't even start until 2014. So if costs are increasing, it's not the ACA, it's because insurance companies, their shareholders and CEOs are profiteering from the misery of others.

If Fette or Riggs don't believe these nuggets, they can look them up where I found them --an article by Fox News.

Kevin J. Gagen

Belleville