Nearly every Western country has a government component in its health care, most of them much more extensive than anything that is likely to be included in the current congressional legislation.

In its Oct. 28 edition, The News reprinted a story from McClatchy Newspapers titled “Moderate Democrats cool to public option in Senate,” referring to a group of 12 senators. The clear implication is that the majority of Democratic senators who are said to favor a government-run program as one option in the health care bill are what—immoderate? radical? This kind of rhetoric is harmful to public understanding of a complex issue.

Judith Slater

Williamsville