Tell me again why we can’t afford universal healthcare | Letter
Maine resident writes letter criticizing Senator Collins’ stance on universal health care
Gorham, Maine – In a letter to the editor of The Press Herald, local resident Chris Crawford expressed strong disagreement with U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ claim that the United States cannot afford universal health care because of the national debt. Crawford argued that many other countries already provide universal coverage and that the U.S. has the fiscal capacity to adopt a similar system.
Crawford’s letter, posted online in early September, opened with a critique of Collins’ statement that the national debt would prevent a universal health‑care program. He described the claim as “specious” and noted that “more than 72 countries around the world have found a way to make universal healthcare a priority for their citizens.” The letter asked, “If they can do it, why can’t we?”
The Maine senator, a Republican who has served Maine in the U.S. Senate since 1997, has previously warned that expanding health coverage could lead to higher taxes that would burden the middle class. In his letter, Crawford said Collins used “scare tactics” by suggesting that middle‑class Americans would become “bankrupt” if the country expanded health care to all. Crawford countered that in universal‑care systems, everyone pays “their fair share,” while wealthy individuals—including billionaires and the single trillionaire—receive a “free ride.”
Crawford also listed a number of federal spending priorities that he believed could be reallocated to fund a universal health‑care program. He cited the $916 billion defense budget, the $900 million renovation of Washington, D.C.’s East Wing ballroom, the fleet of private jets used by cabinet members, the costs of ICE patrols, the $1.4 billion earmarked to keep the National Guard stationed in the capital until 2029, and even the expense of welding down manhole covers so that Grand Prix race cars could speed through Washington, D.C. He implied that these high‑profile expenditures illustrate a misallocation of resources that could be redirected toward health care.
“We can afford universal healthcare,” Crawford wrote. “Those who say we can’t are not telling the truth.”
The letter was received by The Press Herald and published in the paper’s “Featured Letter” section. It has drawn attention from local readers and politicians alike, with some expressing support for Crawford’s call to re‑evaluate federal spending priorities, while others noted that the letter reflects a broader national debate over health‑care policy.
Collins has been a vocal advocate for a market‑based approach to health care and has opposed many of the proposals included in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which contains provisions for expanding coverage. In a recent interview with a national news outlet, Collins reiterated that the cost of a universal health‑care program would be too high for the U.S. economy and that a gradual expansion is preferable.
The letter’s author, Chris Crawford, is a resident of Gorham and has previously written on local and national policy issues. His commentary highlights the ongoing divide between those who see universal health care as a fiscal necessity and those who view it as an expensive luxury.
The debate continues as the U.S. Senate approaches key votes on health‑care legislation, and as citizens across the country weigh the costs and benefits of expanding coverage for all.
