No way to hear from residents

In an Aug. 11 article it said that an Arizona Democrat leader on President Obama's health reform panel would be holding a private forum in Yuma. This meeting is by invitation only and is weighted toward health care providers and not those that will be receiving health care under this proposed plan.

Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema says that this is a way to meet with residents. How can this be? Only those invited to attend can be heard so how does she hear from the residents?

The same thing with Yuma Sen. Amanda Aguirre. She says, "It's our way of finding out what our constituents feel about these issues." Really? How can you learn from your constituents if they are excluded from the meeting?

Is it any wonder that people are so leery of this health care plan?

What we need is a real meeting where everyone is invited to attend, not just a few "hand-picked" attendees. However, from the way health care meetings across the country have been going, I can see why they have a closed meeting.

Is this part of the transparency that we were promised?

Also, does anyone notice the absence of U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva?  We deserve better than this.   

RON MARTIN, Yuma