Editor,

First let me thank all of you who have commended me on these letters to the editor I’ve offered lately. I truly appreciate your support. Some of you have even warned me against speaking out. But, I cannot remain silent any longer.

These Federal representatives of ours are simply unfit and need to be removed from office; and the sooner the better. Remember, the only power we have is the power of our vote and these guys are not representing us and they don’t deserve our vote.

The latest issue facing us is “Obama-care” or government run healthcare. The Congress was unable to get this legislation passed before their summer recess, so many of them are back home holding healthcare town hall meetings to promote this madness. However, to my knowledge none of our three representatives is daring to commit to such an open discussion in our area. I wonder why?

Senator Rockefeller’s meeting, held in Charleston, was for all intents and purposes, a closed meeting, attended only by supporters of the legislation and the AARP comrades. I’ve read, that he didn’t even allow questions. I thought these great Democrat leaders we have in Washington were pledged to run “an open government”. Hmmm? Where is the openness? Where is the civil debate?

I guess the phrase so often touted by liberals, “Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism” only applies if it is a liberal dissenting against a conservative ideal. Then there is good ole Nick Rahall. Where is he? Well, he went to the Mariana Islands this week to discuss tourism. What? Why isn’t he in Logan, Welch, Man, Beckley etc. hearing what we think about this complete takeover of our healthcare system? Could it be that he already knows what we think and is dodging us? I’d bet on it!

Look folks, this is just another blatant exposure of just how these “representatives” of ours actually disdain us. They are determined to pass this legislation whether we like it or not! Why should they consider what we have to say? We didn’t want the stimulus bill, the auto company bailouts, cap and trade, or the freeing of terrorist prisoners. But they’ve done them anyway. Why? Because they are absolutely convinced that most of us are too stupid or too dispassionate to care; and when it comes time to vote … we’ll go as sheep to the slaughter and pull that lever for them … once again.

In fact, they are so confident that they have historically exempted themselves from most of the laws they’ve passed. That is a fact. This healthcare reform legislation will not apply to the members of congress. Oh no. They will continue to have healthcare coverage that the rest of us could only dream of.

Now what right do these people have to force something upon us that they themselves refuse to participate in? I say, if their plan is so great, then why don’t they pass it exclusively for themselves … live with it a few years and then let us decide whether we want it or not? That would make sense wouldn’t it? But that isn’t how elites like our representatives behave. They are special. They deserve better.

We on the other hand should simply shut up, sit down and “do as they say, not as they do”. No thanks boys. If healthcare is as mess, what has caused the mess? I believe all economic woes can be traced back to two sources … the government and the judicial system. First, the government intervenes (often in areas where it constitutionally has not authority or at least no right to interfere), passes laws which are foisted upon the people whether we like it or not; then come the unethical lawyers tagging along behind with frivolous lawsuits making fistfuls of money off the mess that Congress created. Think about it. Why do doctors run five tests when only one test will do? Because they fear a lawsuit from some prime time legal advocate who promises money for everyone who has (fill in the blank … taken a certain drug, had a certain test performed, been exposed to a certain product … etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum). These leaches (oops … lawyers) are nothing more than civil hyenas preying upon the carnage created by the elite, self serving congress that are supposed to be representing US.

If you want to fix healthcare, start there. Tort reform for all! Stop this insane money grab by unscrupulous, unethical lawyers first. Then we can go to work on the fat cat government which created the unbridled pillaging in the first place.

And remember this friends, if you do nothing else … reelect no one in Washington!

Gary Lee Corns

Logan