Who among us has not been inundated with TV spokespersons, from both parties, reciting the good and evil in the current fight over health-care reform?

In my phone call to Congressman Coble's office, I asked that he vote no against bill HR3962. While I am not as knowledgeable as he, his letter to me described the failings of that bill as: The public option is disadvantageous to many; the $1.3 trillion, in part, will have to pay for the many new bureau departments the bill will create -- forever; allegedly, $752.6 million will be paid by middle-class families and small businesses through taxes and penalties with the offset balance paid by cutting $500 billion from the Medicare program.

Of course, there is more to it, but I ask, how can a senator or congressman (Democrat or Republican) vote for a bill that would have such an impact on future generations?

Last Friday, every Republican voted no, and every Democrat voted yes. Do they vote as their Constituents expect, or do they vote because the word Democrat or Republican is stamped on their shirts? How can there be such an absolute division among those we have put into power to protect us from governmental takeover of our future?

The only weapon we have is our vote. If your elected officials vote against your concerns for our country, vote them out. That will hurt them more than the pain our country will experience if the Senate version of health-care reform passes.

Robert Luhrs

Pinehurst