As a reply to Leo J. Theonnes’ Jan. 23 letter titled “Republican likes Republican victory,” all I got to say is you’re celebrating a hollow victory. While I agree that the new proposed health care system is awful, the old health care system is just as bad, if not worse.

A while back, you made the insulting comment that you wondered what I was smoking when I gave the facts about health care in the U.K. and Canada. I stand by what I wrote and point to the list from the World Health Organization that ranked the U.S. health care system at number 37 (just behind Costa Rica and just ahead of Slovenia). By the way, Canada was 30th and the U.K. was 18th. Just Google “World Health Organization Rankings” and you can see the same listing.

It is disgraceful that the U.S., the world’s wealthiest country, should be ranked this low in providing health care for its citizens. Our country can and should do better. For far too long, we have put self-serving politicians in positions of power.

Our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, have failed this country. They are not speaking the truth when they tell you they don’t have the answers.

It is simple: Study the countries that have better health care systems and adopt the good parts. Besides Canada and the U.K., there are 34 other examples that need to be looked at for how to improve our health care system.

But of course, this is not being done.

Why? Because politicians keep getting themselves elected with empty rhetoric about how we are number one and how we are the best. They could care less about solving the problems that plague the average person so long as they can live in luxury off your tax dollars.

I don’t know about you, but I like to get what I pay for. I pay taxes. I want the politicians to do what they say they are going to do.

Research the candidates and what they claim they are going to do before you vote. Hold the elected officials accountable for what they promise. The information is easily obtainable.

Do the research.

Don’t blindly believe what politicians tell you when they are trying to get your vote and your money.

Knowledge is power.

Ignorance is weakness.

Educate yourself.

B.L.Morgan, Federal Way