Politicians must join together to pass meaningful health care reform, and now. Alaska's congressional delegation has the opportunity to be leaders in this effort.

Alaska is among the nation's leaders in health care costs and health insurance premiums. Most doctors in this state turn away new Medicare patients, because they can't afford the lower rates paid them to take care of our elderly. The number of uninsured grows each year.

Our senators are young compared to their colleagues. Our representative's reputation is clouded amid legal troubles.

Still, if these three would pull together to work toward meaningful change, they could be a force. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has earned her way into a Republican leadership role in just a few years. In only a few months, Sen. Mark Begich has worked to entrench himself into his majority party. Rep. Don Young's years of experience could guide them through the games and mazes that make up the political system.

Instead, the trio that makes up our Alaska delegation agrees on only two things: the system is broken and Alaskans are suffering more than most. The agreements among those in the two parties stop there.

Think the bills are too expensive? Fine, then toss out a few ideas to make it happen cheaper.

Worried that the Dems are making deals behind closed doors? Then knock those doors down, have a seat and offer suggestions on how to make it happen.

Stop worrying about the politics, the parties, the leadership positions and the finagling to do one better than that guy across the isle.

The Journal reported recently that health insurance premiums on average will rise 22 percent next year. Individuals will see a nearly 18 percent increase in their premiums.

Begich reports that the average insurance premiums in Alaska have doubled in the past decade, and if nothing is done, will double again before another decade passes.

Small business owners struggle to offer insurance to their employees and still keep their doors open. Many have raised premiums and deductibles. Others had to drop coverage altogether.

The nation's larger businesses aren't immune: Morris Communications, the Journal's parent company, is a good example.

In 2008, employees paid $60 every two weeks for individual coverage and $180 bi-weekly for family coverage. In 2010, employees will pay $79 for individual and $242 for the family. Deductibles have also gone up, from $600 in 2008 to $800 in 2010.

Dental coverage remains the same: $50 deductible; maximum coverage is $1,000 a year. There is no coverage for vision, but the company's insurance does offer a discount program. However, it's generally cheaper to catch a good sale at Lenscrafters.

Picking up prescription drugs from a retail outlet remains the same, but mail order - long promoted as a way to save money - has risen. Those costs have gone up - depending on which "tier" your drug falls in - between 17.5 and 40 percent.

And these higher costs come in the wake of across the board pay cuts that ranged from 5 to 10 percent. Morris employees, like everyone else in America, also have to pay more for fuel, utilities, taxes, you name it.

Still, we're among the lucky ones. Our employer, faced with high bond debt and, at one point, potential bankruptcy, kept us covered. Some bosses don't or can't.

Some Morris employees still worry about how they'll pay for those higher deductibles and co-pays and if the insurance company will even cover that procedure. But we have something.

There are too many people who don't have even that. Too many who have deductibles that are in the thousands of dollars or who have nothing at all.

No matter how you feel about the catch-phrase issue of the day, be it the public option, Medicare for all, the end of life discussion (dubbed by at least one Alaskan politician and wannabe national leader as the insidious "death panels"), it's time to put aside the argument that reform can't be done because it's too expensive.

Health care reform is too expensive? Please. The current system is killing us all - literally for too for many.

The "too expensive" argument is thoughtless, especially in light of all the other unnecessary, wasteful government spending that goes on every day. The spending that Republicans and Democrats alike vote a resounding yes on, and then send press releases home expounding their great success in bringing such largess to their states.

The Alaska delegation should work together and with the leaders of both parties to make good, strong changes for the people, sans all the politics, lobbyists and other games politicians play. This issue is too important.