I appreciated reporter Rachel Ohm’s July 1 report on the positions of the gubernatorial candidates on key issues. 

I have a special interest in healthcare. It is clear that Hannah Pingree and Rick Bennett are deeply concerned about our healthcare crisis and that either of them would provide the leadership needed to enact necessary reform. Their policies are clear, sane and practical.

With Bobby Charles, the picture is unclear. His campaign website says very little about healthcare, and his statements leave one doubting he could lead effectively in this area.

For example, Charles told this newspaper he would “encourage the hospitals to stay open with tax incentives.” He must be unaware that, except for recently acquired Central Maine Healthcare, the large health conglomerates in Maine and the hospitals under their umbrellas are nonprofits do not pay the usual taxes. Perhaps he means government subsidies (negative taxes) as incentives to keep the hospitals open?

Even more puzzling: “We don’t want our system to be run by the state because the state has run it into the ground.” Charles is mistaken: the state does not run our healthcare system. Except for the VA, our provider system (hospitals, pharmacies, etc.) lies entirely in the private and nonprofit sector. A possible winner for him would be to propose a ban on acquisitions by private equity firms, which are famous for running hospitals into the ground.

Charles should get serious about the healthcare crisis, educate himself and formulate sensible policies. A large majority of voters are affected. He can’t afford to ignore it.

Michael Bacon
Westbrook