It was reported in The Pilot Aug. 9 that U.S. Rep. Howard Coble has decided to oppose health-care insurance reform. In the same article, he is quoted as saying "Each day I hear from individuals and families suffering under the weight of unaffordable medical bills and the cost of health insurance. I believe that health-care reform must improve the quality and accessibility of care, without regard to pre-existing conditions."

That being the case, one wonders why Coble isn't embracing health-care insurance reform, or why he didn't usher in an improved system when his party controlled both houses of Congress.

One is left to wonder if perhaps Congressman Coble's words don't ring a bit hollow -- like the most vocal, over-age-65 protestors disrupting town hall meetings who happily collect Medicare benefits while arguing against the possibility of public insurance options.

We are becoming a nation of "true believers" where ideology rules and rational discourse becomes criminal. I find this to be a sad and embarrassing moment in our nation's history.

Glenn Gilchrist

Southern Pines

Editor's Note: The above letter was written before the publication of Wednesday's Pilot editorial on the same theme. The similarity is coincidental.