Make the senators do their jobs

I was outraged when I read the quote ["Alliances collapse as health debate picks up steam," seattletimes.com, Nation & World, July 19] from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., "If we're to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."

Excuse me, but the object is health care, not party wins. The American public lost in 1993 when Congress was distracted by the change in party dominance and let all work on health care stop to prove Bill Clinton wrong. We, the working poor, lost.

No one picked up the points of disagreement and reworked them -- work just stopped. Because of that stoppage, health care is owned by insurance profiteers and pharmaceutical manipulators for CEO and stock gains.

If DeMint doesn't like what is being presented now, then he should work on what is wrong and make it better. He could ensure better health-care service for the cost, cut down on profits for the few, save lives and stop the ugly partisanship.

DeMint and others should restore the ethics in the job they were elected to do.
Members of the public and media should call out these politicians no matter the party and stop the political games. Make those elected get the job done.

-- Sue Karahalios, Oak Harbor

Demint is a disgrace to his office

I am outraged over the narrow objective of Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.: "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." That a man elected to the Senate would ignore what is in the best interest of the United States and give no recommendations but just propose to defeat the president is repugnant and unprincipled.

President Obama has put forth a proposal to correct a lamentable dereliction of government. The Republicans sat on this issue for eight years and did nothing. This Republican has only the objective of stopping reform and crippling Obama.
He is a disgrace to his office.

-- David C. Hutchinson, Redmond

Representatives must keep an open mind on health care

Republican members of Congress accusing President Obama of staging a dangerous experiment with our health care should be ashamed of themselves.

How can anyone who has an ounce of morality advocate against the basic human right -- not luxury -- of quality, affordable health care for all?

This is not the time for partisan politics. This is the time for our elected representatives to pitch in and do what is right for this country. That includes keeping an open mind and taking part in appreciative discussions in order to cocreate the best possible solution.

-- Ellia Ryan, Seattle