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We doubt few Americans, whether among the general public or members of the United States House of Representatives, Senate or residents of the White House, have read and can fully comprehend all of the implications of the 1,900-page health care bill under consideration.

Certainly, we, like most who work for a living, have not had time to read it and we doubt many of the attorneys who helped write it can comprehend the full implications of the bill with its many amendments.

We do know that from all reports, the majority of Americans feel we are rushing too fast in an effort to achieve goals which legislation under consideration will not do. Most apparently feel we should begin by correcting what is already in place.

Critical that the proposed legislation does not go far enough, the Lexington, Kentucky, Herald-Leader notes that the bill that cleared the Senate Finance Committee would leave an estimated 17 million citizens and legal residents uninsured as well as eight million illegal residents, a total of 25 million.

Former U. S. House of Representatives Speaker, Republican Newt Gingrich of Georgia, spoke to the Nashville Health Care Council early this week. He praised Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, for his vocal criticism of health care proposals before Congress, that the governor says will be unaffordable for the states.

Gingrich said that Gov. Bredesen's experiences in dealing with exploding health care costs in Tennessee should serve as "a real model for the country."

In 2005, Bredesen cut 170,000 adults from TennCare and reduced benefits for thousands more because of escalating costs at the state's expanded Medicaid program.

Bredesen said in his speech to the group that the estimated cost of the health care proposals could present "challenges to the financial viability of our state."

Gingrich says more people in Congress should listen to Bredesen, "rather than charging merrily down the road, inventing a fantasy."

Other very pertinent observations which we hear daily is that most of the members of the U.S. House and Senate either are or soon become millionaires after their election and that it not necessarily the result of any illegal actions. Congress lives in a different world.

Of course, with their average amount of assets it might not make much difference but members of Congress might abide by different thoughts if its members' health benefits were limited to those of the average American and they were without lifetime benefits. Law grants them much better care, regardless of what they dole out to us.

Certainly we need educated and knowledgeable people in government, smart enough to figure out what is best for our future. These are people that could earn a good living outside of government. The problem is they don't really know what it is to be challenged by an increase in the cost of gasoline, a loaf of bread or a prescription. As a body, they lack understanding of the needs of the middle class working people.

That brings to mind what we have read that those traveling with various U. S. presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have written over the years. Though it very rarely ever happened, in a few instances when the president needed some change, his pockets were always empty. He just wasn't in the habit of paying for anything.

A story which we cannot verify but that has made the rounds about President George H. W. Bush. It has been said that in the rare instance that he had to pay for something he always chose to write a check, knowing that no one would likely cash a check signed by the President of the United States.

We think the current resident of the White House is trying to accomplish too many very difficult things in too short a period of time. Some have suggested the reason is the likelihood his party will lose its majority in the Senate within two years, limiting his activity. Whatever the reason, whether health care, energy or environment, these matters are far too serious to be slapped together so rapidly. Rome wasn't built in a day.