To the editor:

Our nation remains without a viable plan for health insurance for every American. Dollars for education are scarce, and thousands of jobs in the United States continue to be lost to other parts of the world.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, our esteemed politicians continue with bipartisan bickering. Both parties are obsessed with their own political agendas, seemingly oblivious to the many serious issues facing our nation.

While unwilling, or unable to address education, health care and unemployment, the Senate did find time to vote itself a hefty pay raise.

The most recent evidence of “American politicians behaving badly” is the recent filibuster in the Senate in order to block President Bush’s judicial nominees.

Whatever happened to voting and debating on such issues?

And whatever happened to serious candidates running for election on “third-party tickets?”

Where have you gone, Ross Perot?

Robert Hinton,

Lawrence