Readers have strong views about the health care furor and my suggestion that the politicians listen to the people.

CF: Listen to the people? You mean the lunatic fringe. The people who are kicking and screaming raving mad don't even understand the basic issue. When pressed for specific objections they regurgitate the baseless talking points spewed by the far right mouthpieces. The Hitler and Nazi references is far too offensive. Let's assume there were no bailouts, no stimulus spending, and the government just blindly went and cut 10% of budget, prompting lay-offs of 10% of the government workers. Would the economy be better then? Not only would many of the formerly blue chip major automakers, insurance companies, and financial institutions go out of business, there will be a ripple effect of related companies going belly up as well. It would create a world wide depression of historic proportion ...

Wayne: Politicians listen? Very soon after most politicians are elected they forget they duty is to represent the people who elected them to their office. Their own opinions become more important than those of their constituents. After all, they are smarter and have "the greater good" in mind when legislating, right? This mentality is prevalent in both parties and will continue to be until the voters hold politicians accountable. More loud and rambunctious "good old American political discourse" is necessary to keep our elected officials representing the people's will, not theirs or their parties.

Heather: Way to go, Don. You just lumped everyone into the same big pot, boiling down their complicated concerns to being "fed up," and saying that all of these are "Democrat" plans only. There are Republicans supporting this bill as well, and those seeking compromise. I find it very disturbing that you find that someone "carrying swastikas," as Pelosi noted, is an okay tactic to "warn against the kind of arrogance exhibited by Pelosi." While I'm not in disagreement with you that Pelosi is arrogant, it's repulsive and sad that you are supporting someone using a swastika to express their opinion. Calling these plans "Democrat" is a nice opinionated way to express your distrust and misunderstanding of the situation....You're right, it does come down to trust and I don't trust you to be unbiased.

Judie Belle: Trust politicians? Are you kidding? I don't see how anyone can support a health care plan when they don't know what's in it. Just when you think you have an idea of where they're going with it, the focus changes ...

TDW: Don, you couldn't be more on target. This isn't about a political party! It's about losing control and a loss of freedom. It's about loss of incentive to work and save and provide for your own family without government finding ever more oppressive ways to take it away from you. All of the sacrifices I'm made in my life to get ahead so I could retire with some security is being taken away from me overnight ...

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