To the editor:

Few Republicans have denounced South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s egregious outburst calling President Obama a liar from the floor of Congress. His apology is needed beyond the president, to Congress and to the American people. Wilson’s anger seems but the tip of the iceberg. Changes in the last year, including racial, financial and demographic, plus the failing health care system, are frightening.

Defeating the current administration is not dealing with a problem requiring tough choices and possible sacrifice. It is easier to find a scapegoat. We see distorted and misleading information, political rhetoric, and no focus on health care reform. I urge support of the moral principles of our Constitution. Government is to provide for the “general Welfare.” Health care for all without exclusions is a moral right!

Concern with financing is legitimate. However, a broken system continues getting worse. Lost income, bankruptcies and loss of homes are connected with health care. This doesn’t consider unnecessary pain and suffering. More than 18,000 people die every year due to lack of health insurance, according to an Institute of Medicine study. This is a greater national catastrophe than Sept. 11.

Socialized health insurance is NOT socialized medicine. With Medicare, doctors and patients have more clinical freedom than where corporate bureaucrats attempt to direct clinical care.

Financial collapse has shown that unregulated systems fail. Rather than government subsidies without regulation, some essential systems require government oversight to reduce corruption. Defense, intelligence and public health come to mind. Might not health care be included?