Everyones heart goes out to Sen. John McCain battling brain cancer. We pray he survives it as he did his years as a North Vietnamese prisoner of war, which left one arm compromised from severe torture.

Columnist Lynn Sweet surmised his sobering confrontation withhis mortality this week mightmove him to vote in favor ofthe DREAM Act enabling undocumented children to stayhere, having grown up asAmericans.

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From there, its only a short leap to realize McCain received immediate first-rate medicalcare no questions asked, thanksto the platinum insurance coverage he and other senatorsand Congress people enjoy asa fringe benefit: no deductibles; no disqualifying preexisting conditions; no agecutoffs. Bulletproof. Its single-payer coverage like everyone receives in Europe,where health outcomes arebetter at half the cost.

Why deride such coverageas socialism for the rest ofus but not for our federallegislators? Word games. Pure and simple. All that is neededis to re-shuffle the deck andstart fresh, with open minds,seeing as stake-holders notonly the usual players likeBig Pharma, for-profit insurers, etc., but also thepeople.

As long as theres hopeMcCains condition mightdispose him to vote yes onimmigration reform sincewere all pulling for him whynot also hope he speaks in favor of reforming the U.S.health care system for thebetter?

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park

Senate health care bill vote is irresponsible

Tuesday the Senate will be called to vote on a health care plan that will change the lives of at least 32 million people. As of Friday they still didnt know whats in the bill theyre voting on. This bill could be a total repeal of Obamacare, but delayed for two years. It could be a limited replacement. Nobody knows. Whatever side of the health care issue you take, this is irresponsible.

For the last six months, veterans, the elderly and the disabled among others have been on tender hooks about what insurance they would have, or if theyd have insurance at all. In some options that could go on for another two years.

All of the options the Senate leadership are considering would destabilize the insurance market. The ripple effect would spread to everyone who has health insurance whether theyre on the exchange or not. Businesses unsure of next years expenses might be slow with expansion or raises, ultimately slowing the economy.

Our president and our congressional leaders indicate a take our plan or no plan, doesnt matter to us attitude. That doesnt sound like making sure the vast majority of Americans have adequate health care is their priority.

Im asking you to call your senators. Ask them to vote no on any health care bill until they have a fully considered and debated plan that voters have time to review.

Wendy LaFauce, Belvidere

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LETTERS: The imbalance in health care between legislators and citizens - Chicago Sun-Times