Shouting congressman enjoys free health care

Joe Wilson, the disrespectful congressman who yelled at President Obama, is passionate about stopping government-run health care. Fair enough. He's a Republican, and by definition, they don't think government can do anything right.

But wait - as usual, there's Republican hypocrisy involved. It turns out that, as a retired Army National Guard colonel, Wilson is eligible for free lifetime coverage. And with four sons in the armed services, the entire Wilson offspring has enjoyed multiple generations of free military medical coverage, known as TRICARE. It covers

9.5 million active-duty members and retirees.

The plan is low cost and very popular because it works, despite being a government-run health care system. It shows you what a system based on making people healthy rather than corporate profits can manage.

Jim Henry

West Branch