Vote conscience, Chet

I am appalled by the finagling that has been going on in Washington to pass the seriously flawed health care proposal. I hope our congressman, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, has the strength of character to put constituents’ concerns before loyalty to the Democratic Party when he votes.

Here in Waco we follow the Open Meetings Act, realizing that deals made behind closed doors are anathema to citizens at large. The Democratic party leaders have decided to get their way by any means possible, thereby denying any possibility of dialogue with Republicans and independent voters.

In his obsession to pass a heath care program, President Obama has negated any effort to foster the bipartisanship he promised.

 I have always supported Edwards — who I believe has voted his conscience rather than the party line.

His vote on health care will show me whether I was right or wrong.

Dorothy Fornoff

Waco

Minority control

The people and welfare of the United States of America are too important to be held hostage by a Republican minority bent on obstructing almost every piece of legislation proposed by the Democratic majority.

The effect of this blatant obstructionism is to thwart policy simply because it is a Democrat proposal. So much for considering the merits of the legislation.

The minority has a right to be considered. But it should not triumph when it lacks ideas of its own and exists only to kill all congressional progress. Doing nothing but obstruction is no policy.

True democracy requires majority rule, not minority rule.

Alan Langford

Gatesville

Column hit home

The Jan. 15 Trib column by Alan Northcutt, “MLK’s stance against occupation still rings true,” was one of the best I have read in a long time. It was eye-opening and put our relationship with the world and humanity in a perspective we often don’t think about.

One sentence really hit home with me: “For those who proclaim that the United States is a Christian nation, realize that Jesus would place equal value on a child in Pakistan as a child in Texas.”

Dan Dyer

Waco

Sad situation in Haiti

The destruction in Haiti is sad. Yet seeing the images of all the women sitting in the midst of all the rubble and singing “God will save and help us” is inspirational.

This is a poor nation. But our nation here should get a wake-up call from this. We have a lot to learn, especially about prejudice.

Hopefully these images will help to plant some seeds. We need to keep all nations in our prayers.

Ann Brown

Waco

Baylor baseball

Never mind red-breasted robins or Punxsutawney Phil ringing in spring. At my house the only sign I need is found in my kitchen where we sport a homemade countdown calendar to Baylor baseball season.

Right now it shows 30 more days until the Feb. 19 season starts.

Sic ’em Bears, from your fans in Section 108!

Kay King

Eddy