The Surgeon General

President Obama said, "So make no mistake: The status quo on health care is no longer an option for the United States of America."

Mr. President, there is no status quo in the American health care. It is vibrant, with new drugs, and new medical devices being introduced all the time. Bio technology is changing the basics of managing diseases.

Mr. President, if you would eliminate all the rules and regulations and the government involvement in health care that protects all the players; doctors, nurses, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc., you would see a vibrant free market in health care. Restrictions on competition cause the status quo.

Despite the regulations in the U.S. health care industry, there remains some competition. I just returned from my dentist where I could only look in awe at the technology that has changed dental care in my lifetime.

One should admire the accomplishments and dedication to helping others of the new nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin. I do however think as surgeon general she should lose some weight. The message to the proletariat that if an educated surgeon general can be overweight, then obesity must not be a problem.

Charles Tolleson