I thought it was only in Canada and other countries that people had to wait for months for an appointment with a specialist. My husband's sister has to wait two months to have a consultation for a herniated disc in her neck. Why does she have to wait?

I just heard someone in our community had heart surgery but no insurance. Who is going to pay his bill?

America is sick! We need health care reform before Christmas. Congress seems to have forgotten that this is not about partisan competition but rather about making sure that all members of our society have access to the care they need when they are sick. This is the time for our senators and representatives to do justice for all those who go without treatment or have gone bankrupt paying for their care.

Health care reform is too important to be derailed by political pettiness. It's about taking care of sick people.

In our community people with concern and compassion are working on opening free clinics for the uninsured. The article in The Marietta Times Friday, Nov. 13, stated that of the 65,000 residents of Washington County, around 8,000 are uninsured. What about the people in Noble and Monroe counties who do not even have a hospital and have to go to Marietta, Cambridge or Barnesville?

As one who is working on opening a free clinic in Lower Salem for the Duck Creek area in Noble, Monroe and Washington counties, I know there is a need for a reform of our health care system.

Congress should give our country an early Christmas present and pass a health care reform bill NOW.

Margaret Meeker

Lower Salem