Forty-five million are uninsured and/or without quality health care in America. This is what our government tells us — government that passed a $780 billion bill to keep our unemployment rate from rising to 8 percent, which is currently 9.5 percent nationally, and expected to rise to double digits nationally.

Millions, billions, trillions! What effect will these dollar amounts have on our future?

Government has said this strategy will improve our quality of health care without adding a single dime to our deficit.

Elected officials who say “it’s about available affordable, quality health care for all,” but might not enroll themselves.

I’ve been on all sides of the fence. Insured, uninsured, working and unemployed. I am now unemployed because of a layoff.

Recent hospital stays and treatments disqualified me for unemployment benefits, which I consider fair, knowing I am physically unable to work at this time.

When I lived in Natchez several years ago, I was having chest pains. Being uninsured, my wife drove me to The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson — a charity hospital.

After many tests including of bone marrow, they concluded I had a rare blood disorder called E.T.

My only cost was for gas and the medicine I required.

I now live in Vidalia and receive quality health care for E.T., emphysema, osteoarthritis, and a recent ankle fracture from LSU-S in Shreveport, La — another charity hospital.

I thank God, despite the travel time and some waiting before seeing doctors, for the quality health care I receive, charged according to our individual circumstances.

I have seen with my own eyes and heart that all do receive quality health care from the charity hospitals in Mississippi and Louisiana.

National security, immigration, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security for future generations, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan apparently have been cured, also adding prescription drug coverage for our senior citizens.

We, our children and theirs should feel most secure and confident.

Do you believe it is time to press forward?

We have 45 million uninsured and/or without quality health care in America?

Daniel W. Smith

Vidalia resident