Health Rally Urges South Dakotans To Contact Lawmakers

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Health Rally Urges South Dakotans To Contact Lawmakers

By KSFY Staff

This week, hundreds of people filled the grandstand at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls to protest what they call socialized health care. Those who organized the rally say our freedoms are at risk if our health care is controlled by the government. But they say the rally was more about getting people to search for answers, than about protesting current health care proposals.

It was a patriotic display fitting with the Fourth of July weekend. But there you'd also see fake gravestones. Protestors say they represent the death of freedoms as a result of government-controlled health care and tax hikes. Among the guest speakers: Dr. Blake Curd, a Sioux Falls surgeon and South Dakota legislator. He says, "To me, there is no greater freedom, or no greater liberty than the ability to choose what kind of health care you take for yourself, your loved ones and your family members."

But Curd says even if you don't agree with his stance on what some call socialized medicine, he's urging people to get information and contact South Dakota's congressional delegation. That's exactly what brought Tammy Weis to the rally. She says, "We want our politicians to listen to us, and they don't seem to listen until we get together and have a loud voice."

When it comes to South Dakota's congressional delegation: Senator Tim Johnson says he won't rule out a tax increase to pay for health care reform. But Senator John Thune says he won't support a tax increase. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says she would support such reform but would insist changes are revenue-neutral.

Dr. Blake Curd sees this as an issue that will continue to pick up steam in the weeks and months ahead. He says, "I'm concerned that what we start today will grow wildly out of control and be something we don't even recognize when my children are old enough to consider going to medical school or when I have to access the health care system as I age."

Another rally is planned for July 17th. That one will be held outside the congressional offices in Sioux Falls. President Obama says health reform is needed to insure the 45 million people who have no insurance right now. He hopes to have legislation on his desk by October and said he would not tolerate "endless delay" by congress.

© 2009 KSFY Action News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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