Editor’s note: Paul Coalson, of Joplin, has received a response from President Barack Obama after sending him a letter expressing his views on health care reform. The following is the letter from Coalson and the response from the president.

It is my belief that our governor, Jay Nixon, of Missouri, is one of the very few officials who is taking very appropriate actions in starting actions to help correct one of many problems leading to the present dilemma. He is make the very tough decisions of reducing expenses by curtailing expenditures — many of them will affect programs somewhat beneficial to many people. This action may not need to be permanent elimination, but should trigger a complete reevaluation and strong oversight and review. More of these expenditures, from my own knowledge, are going to people who make very little effort to provide for themselves.

As to affordable health care. We as individuals are responsible for our families’ welfare. The federal government is not responsible to provide this. Neither should they be allowed to set the standards — if so, only in a very narrow way.

Already this effort has caused my insurance carrier to inform me that my premium will increase by $1,365 while at the same time reduce my benefits by a very substantial amount. This is not affordable insurance.

Competition among the insurance companies should have a dramatic effect in reducing rates. Executive salaries are justifiably high, however, they should not be allowed to make excessive charges to the consumer to accomplish this end.

Finally, our economy should recover so long as no segment such as health care usurps our freedom to make our own decisions without federal mandates.

I am personally concerned with the many pages of the proposed bill and the rush to get it passed. It is too important to rush into law. I am confident that a mistake here will have a devastating effect on the Democratic Party and in particular, every American citizen.

Paul Coalson

Joplin

Obama response

Thank you for contacting me. I have heard from countless Americans struggling to afford health insurance and health professionals striving to provide care. I appreciate your perspective. There is broad consensus among the American people on the need for affordable, high-quality health care. The rising cost of health care is the most pressing financial challenge for families and for our nation, and controlling this cost is essential to bringing down the federal deficits we inherited. Now is the time to move forward and I am committed to getting health care reform done this year.

Since I took office, we have done more to advance the cause of health care reform than we have in the previous decade. In February, I signed H.R. 2 to provide coverage for millions of children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I also signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to make key investments in computerized medical records and preventive services.

Looking forward, we will take additional steps to lower costs, expand coverage and improve the quality of health care. My 2010 budget makes a major down payment on health care reform, funded by implementing efficiencies in government health care spending and restoring a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code. There are tough choices to be made, and I will bring businesses and workers, health care providers and patients, and Democrats and Republicans together to recreate a system that delivers better care and puts the nation on a much sounder long-term fiscal path. To learn more about my agenda and share a personal story, please join me online at: www.healthreform.gov. For further information on health care and assistance that may be available to you, you may call 1-800-FEDINFO or visit: www.usa.gov.

I share the sense of urgency that millions of Americans have voiced. I watched as my ailing mother struggled with stacks of insurance forms in the last moments of her life. This is not who we are as a nation; together, we will fix it.