Lawrence "Cork" Potts of Moundsville has made one of the best - if most worrisome - points we have heard in regard to the debate over a national health care system. Though Potts was present at one of those events liberals claim are dominated by "un-American" behavior, his warning ought to be heeded by those on all sides of the argument.

Two representatives of U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-1st District, were in Moundsville Tuesday to meet with the congressman's constituents. As we have reported, the event was not typical of the regular sessions Mollohan's aides hold. Instead of a few people with personal concerns, the two representatives were greeted by scores of people at the Marshall County Courthouse.

Most of those in attendance wanted to ask questions and air concerns about the health care proposal.

Potts told our reporter that he had heard of angry crowds at some recent gatherings held by members of Congress. He said he attended the Tuesday event because he "figured we needed someone here with a little sense." Indeed, what Potts said made much more than "a little sense."

Potts pointed out that, "You can't make up your mind about the (health care) bill when you don't even know what's in it." He is absolutely correct.

Though hundreds of pages of health care legislation have been written, discussed in Congress and sometimes amended, no one knows what the final version of the bill will contain. Once members of Congress return to Washington, it is probable that the bill will be amended before it comes up for votes in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, made the same point as Potts, though in a different way. Space was among "blue dog" Democrats who argued in favor of changes to the bill. He said last week that while he supports the measure in its current form, he will change that position if amendments insisted upon by the "blue dogs" are taken out of the final version.

In other words, Space, like Potts, is concerned with rewriting of the bill that may occur in September. Changes made then may improve the measure - or they may make it more unacceptable.

We understand the concerns voiced by many area residents in regard to language they believe is in the bill now - and provisions in the original measure that have been changed. Still, as Potts pointed out and Space acknowledged indirectly, we don't really know what will happen in a few weeks. It is that, not concerns about the bill's current language, that should be of utmost concern.