I am a long standing Democrat, and worked actively for President Obama's election. I along with millions of people was deeply touched by his election, and felt that I could once again be a part of a country that had integrity and operated out of high values, keen intellectual interchange and a commitment to real problem solving. I felt there was a new opportunity for our public servants to put their souls and highest ideals into their public service. I still feel that way. And, I do not think this is a naïve hope.

However, I have been deeply saddened by the absence of a strong Republican voice coming out against the people in media and in business-backed so-called grass roots organizations who are fomenting anger, fear, and untruth and scaring citizens half to death with their tactics re the health reform bill. Also Republicans seem to stand by silently while the most crass, untrue, distorted things are said about our President. Not speaking out from one's highest values actually gives support to these people and generates the most horrific climate in this country. To me, not standing for your own deepest values- this is the worst kind of betrayal of the American people.

There are many articles and commentators who say that Republicans are more concerned with reelection, power, and influence than with the welfare of the people. This is quite a generalization. Is this true? I don't really know.

Do not you, Republican elected officials, wish to deeply help and strengthen this country? Do you not have ideals, and plans and ideas that could actually help with the multitude of issues facing the United States and her people?

While not knowing the ins and outs of your life, the pressures on you, the specifics of governing, I can only appeal to the good soul that you are, and ask you to actively stand by your own highest ideals, and do what is right for all the people.

Republican citizens, regardless of your stand on the various issues, I ask you to speak with your Republican representatives, and insist that they stand on their values and principles, and offer their BEST to the discussion, rather than remaining silent, immersed in their own politics, wishing for our President's failure, or, simply saying NO to all options. We need two working parties. WHERE are the Republicans?

SENIOR CITIZENS STAND UP AND BE HEARD. Just recently, I joined the ranks of our senior citizens and am now on Medicare. Our Congress and President are trying to take a Half Trillion Dollars from Medicare and put it into this socialized health care plan that they are trying to ram down our throats. Our politicians and Obama want to change our Health Care to a system like they have in England and Canada. Obama and Congress are trying to bring Socialism to our country. It is not working in Europe and it certainly would not work in the United States of America. Our founding fathers who founded our Republic would turn over in their graves if they knew what this President and Congress were trying to pull. Ninety Percent of the people in our country have health care and 84% of these people like the medical coverage they have. In England people who need a knee replacement have to wait 8 months, hip replacement 9 months. In Canada in order to get an internist to be your doctor it could take more than two years before you get to see a personal physician. Why do you think so many Canadians come to our country for their health care needs? People from Europe come to this country to see our doctors. We have the best health care system in the world. We all know that some things have to be changed. Costs certainly have to be looked at. You do not have to change an entire system to bring down costs. They say that about 47 million people in the United States are not covered by health insurance. The other 32 million are illegal aliens and young people. These young people don't want to pay for health insurance so they just don't apply for it. It is my feeling that all American Citizens should have some form of health care but don't try to change or take away the coverage of 90% of Americans who are happy with what they have.

It seems that every time Mr. Obama opens his mouth he misleads the American people. He said that AARP was backing the health care plan that they are trying to push through. AARP stated that they are not backing any plan that would take away from Medicare. Obama stated that if a senior citizen had to have their foot amputated, a physician would charge $53,000 for such a procedure. The fact is that a doctor is paid by Medicare from $508.00 to $700.00 for such an operation. It seems that Mr. Obama does not know what he is talking about or he is just not telling the truth. You be the judge of that. We as senior citizens want to be treated like every other American. We don't want to be pushed to the back of the line. We did not work all our lives to be treated with a second class health care system that will have a panel that tells us as seniors what we can have and what we can't have in health care. They have written in the plan what they call end of life counseling. I don't want some bureaucrat to tell me if I can live or die. Obama said several days ago that if a person goes to a doctor and is told they need an operation but if they take pain killers to possibly take away some of the pain then possibly they should take the pain killers instead of the operation. Would Mr. Obama do that? Would he let anyone in his family do that? Obama and Congress want the American People to accept this health care plan but they are not willing to go into this same plan with us. They will keep their premier health care. It seems they are saying "don't do what I do but do what I say". What we should ask our politicians is would they be willing to give all Americans the same health care plan that they have and for the same amount of money it costs? What do you think their answer would be? Sorry we the people pay your salaries and remember you are working for us not the other way around. The 2010 elections are 15 months away, so all Americans should remember the Congressmen and Senators that vote for such a socialist health care plan and when it comes for re-election that American people should vote these people out of office. That goes for Republicans and Democrats alike.

Americans stand up and be heard. Don't let these politicians ram this health plan down your throats. The American people that are going to these town hall meetings I salute you. Keep going and telling these politicians what you think even though some politicians are calling you racists, political terrorists, evil mongers, mobsters and Brown shirts. For the politicians that are calling these concerned Americans nasty names shame on you. These are voters that can vote you in or vote you out.