Thank you to recent letter writers for speaking up that we need to back President Barack Obama.

I am always surprised that politicos of all parties, when they are campaigning, promise the American voters all "gold and silver" but once in office, they forget about us and only think of themselves, case in point: the health care reform that is so badly needed and a must for all Americans, regardless of race, creed or political affiliation.

Other countries offer health care to all citizens, so why can't a country such as the United States do the same? We have more wealth and all the know-how and yet, we don't take care of our citizens when they are sick and need help and assistance. This makes us look like wimps to the rest of the world because some of our politicians don't seem to really care.

Ever wonder why some of our elected senators and representatives don't want to cooperate with this health care issue? Well, why should they? They are privileged because they do enjoy health insurance as well as big pensions coming to them thanks to their American voters who believed their rhetoric! And then they let their voters down!

Maybe es tiempo for term limits in both chambers, along with blood transfusions to wake up these politicos to sensibility and commitment of integrity and truth to their voters! And, I would like to suggest to some of those people who yell "Obama is a communist" to go and live in Russia, for instance, as I'd venture to say that they have no idea what it is to live under a communist regime. Perhaps then they would welcome reality.

The so-called "tea party" is more than just frightening; you'd have thought that Sarah Palin would have given the "tea party" delegates more of an intelligent and truthful speech, now that she told America that she reads all magazines. I wonder who is her political adviser on national and foreign policy? Must be somebody just as clueless! Maybe it is time for her to go back to Alaska to once again be that hockey mom that she was telling us about.

Thank God that we now have a president who wants to help and do something worthwhile for the American people instead of just ruthlessly focusing on big business corporations as well as the medical giants who obviously don't care one bit for the American people who need health insurance. Is it the same old greed I wonder? In these troublesome days, I often go back to study and read about Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Dag Hammarskjold, wondering what would they do at this time of our national and worldwide political uncertainties?

Inger Boudouris, who was born in Sweden, is a longtime Santa Fean.