Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The thundering hooves of the Midnight Rider heralding, in the name of the people, a wake-up call meant to raise awareness and a call to action … Moving forward in time to Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, the historic town of Gloucester, Va., a group of citizens exercised their rights to send the alert regarding the question of Government Run Healthcare (GRH) and calls to action the citizenry urging them fervently to vote in this year’s election.

The citizens, mostly seniors, who demonstrated in the "Wheel Chair Rally" are highly skeptical of healthcare being dictated and administered by government bureaucrats and not being decided between doctor and patient.

The group of wheel-chair "patients" was pushed up and down Main Street with placards and flags flying, expressing their frustration with the terms of GRH and more urgently "fear" at what we don’t know about our new laws. Seniors are being warned by their healthcare providers about upcoming changes. 1. GRH has already raised costs by 18 percent. 2. Medicare states prescription rates are rising. 3. Seniors, who have retirement savings investments, have their capital gains taxes increased from 15 to 20 percent. Will they now be able to afford all their prescriptions? 4. Diagnostics and treatments will have limits for people over 70. What about our 91-year-old WWII navigator who proudly and patriotically took part in the Rally? Will he be able to get a hip replacement or cancer treatment due to his age? Will you? What about our other vet who came in his WWII khakis to show his concerns for the degrading of veteran services? 5. The wait for treatment will be longer. GRH will have 30 million more patients and no plans for an increase in the number of doctors. Canadians come to the USA for treatment because their National Health has long waits. 7. GRH dictates that faith-based organizations must provide birth control and abortions for employees. This is in direct conflict with their core principles.

Our group of concerned citizens reported that they were heartened by the overwhelming support of a non-stop parade of motorists who honked and put thumbs up in encouragement. They were also delighted to meet the Civil War re-enactors in the Court House Square who also showed support for the "Wheel Chair Gang" and their innovative signs.

GRH has been declared Constitutional but has also been recognized as a new tax. Someone must pay! The individual mandate that requires that all U.S. citizens now have GRH penalizes those who do not comply with fines. Remember, 60 percent of the population is not in favor of government controlled healthcare and since when has government-run "anything" been a paragon of cost-cutting and efficiency!

You have the power in the voting booth! Summing up the theme of the Wheel Chair Rally, I will quote from a bumper sticker: "If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it’s FREE!"

N. Malec

Gloucester, Va.