I have watched the recent efforts advanced by the Obama administration and the House and Senate leadership and have despaired for the future and economic security of our nation if this reform package is passed in its current form. In addition, I am shocked and amazed at the cynical and desperate measures being advanced by the Democrat party leaders to obtain passage of this legislation at any cost.

Let me reiterate that although the current health care system may be imperfect and needs some work, it would be far better to leave it alone rather than to insert more government regulation, oversight and control into the current health care system. "Reform" does not necessarily have to cost the taxpayers one cent, but, according to preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the original House health care bill, HR 3962, would have resulted in over $1 trillion in government subsidies with a net cost to the taxpayers of almost $900 billion over 10 years.

The bill currently being advanced by the House leadership by way of parliamentary sleight of hand was not even available for review until Thursday. Who knows what the true financial impact will be of the reconciled bill? If the long term cost of the health care bill is anything like the long term effects of the cost of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, all of which cost far more than originally estimated, the effect on this nation's economy will be disastrous.

Yet, U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-South Cobb) and his colleagues are rushing this bill toward a final vote and appear hell bent on getting something, anything, passed regardless of the financial consequences to our nation, the adverse effect the bill will have on the absolute best health care system in the world, and, in a display of the utmost arrogance and elitism, notwithstanding the expressed opposition of most Georgians and most Americans.

The House leadership also appears to be taking an approach of allowing members to "deem the Senate bill as having been passed" so they can continue the process of destroying the current health care system. The "deemed passed" strategy is the pinnacle of political cowardice, and, in my opinion, is an admission that the Senate version of the bill is chock full of bad ideas that none of the House Democrats want to go on record as having supported.

The Democrats have had a majority in both houses and in control of the White House since January 2009. If the bill were so good, it would have been passed long before now.

Who is Rep. Scott listening to? Can he hear only the siren call of the White House and the Speaker, who, with almost one voice, have stated something to the effect that "Once the American people find out what is in the bill, we will be satisfied with it." How offensive.

How many communications like mine has Scott received imploring him to vote "no" on this bill? Is he going to cast his vote consistent with the principles of the Blue Dog Coalition that he claims to follow? Is he going to continue to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the expressed will of the American people, who are literally shouting at their representatives in Washington to defeat this bill?

According to the latest tracking poll data (March 13/14) from Rasmussen, 53 percent of voters surveyed are opposed to the health care plan, with 46 percent being strongly opposed to the plan. Rasmussen conducted a state specific poll for Georgia in August, 2009 and found that 54 percent of those surveyed opposed the plan. The majority of Americans and the majority of Georgians do not want this bill. Even though Scott and his colleagues were sent to Washington to represent me and my neighbors, and to speak and vote on our behalf, he does not seem to care anymore about the will of the people.

I suggest that he and his colleagues should be held strictly accountable for their indifference.

Jerry Landers is a Marietta attorney.