It is my belief that a voting, taxpaying, responsible citizen and consumer needs to stay informed. Some facts I have found particularly appalling are in regards to health care in America, my home sweet home.

Our nation rates 37th among industrialized countries in health care quality while spending twice as much ($7,129 per capita). In spite of this huge expenditure we are the only industrialized country with a declining life expectancy and the highest infant mortality rate in the western world.

We spend 31 percent of our health care dollars on for-profit health care insurance bureaucracy, feeding the paperwork beast approximately $400 billion a year. This a vast sum of money for administrative cost.

Medical bills contribute to one-half of all bankruptcies; three-fourths of these had insurance when they became sick or injured.

In 2008 total spending on health care insurance was $2.4 trillion - not health care, health insurance.

Our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, inappropriate care and fraud. This costs employers and workers and affects family security.

It's interesting to note that health care spending is 4.3 times more than expenditures on national defense. Health insurance is now the fastest-growing cost component for employers. If we don't do something, health insurance costs will overtake profit for business owners.

Health care in America desperately needs reform, for businesses, families and our economy to thrive and for the health of us all. Health care has become the millstone around our necks: Insurance companies making obscene profits. For-profit hospitals charging obscene prices. CEOs of these medical care corporations rolling around in our money.

Learn the facts, folks! It's knowledge upon which your life might depend.

Lori J. Brunker, Lebanon