From commenter, and occasional guest poster Jimmy J, this is so good it deserves its own post:
As a member of the "mob" that has been protesting porkulus, cap and trade, and Obamacare I take deep umbrage at the insults and invectives hurled at me and my fellow citizens by the elite MSM and the democrat pols.
Unfortunately, I live in the People's Republic of Puget Sound, where conservatives are almost as rare as spotted owls. Our representatives are, for the most part, close observers of the party line as delineated by Nancy and Harry.
In spite of that fact I regularly communicate my views to them. Sometimes I get an answer - usually democrat boilerplate probably written by a staffer. Recently, because of the insults directed at TEA Party citizens by the democrat leadership I sent this missive off to both Senators and my Congressman.
"Dear Senator Murray,
I am a retired 76 year old Navy veteran and airline pilot. I've always been a voter and tried to stay informed about political issues. However, I've never been involved in any kind of protest on the streets........until now! In the last few months I have participated in two TEA Parties and two Healthcare Reform protests. Never did I think I would be involved in such a thing. Let me tell you why I have taken to the streets.
1. I don't feel my elected representatives are listening to their constituents.
2. I don't feel my elected representatives are paying strict attention to the Constitution.
3. I am upset because this Congress is out of control as far as fiscal responsibility goes. You folks are spending too way much money! And it's most all borrowed money! You give drunken sailors a bad name. (I know because I was one once) At least we were spending our own money.
4. You people are passing bills (The stimulus bill, the omnibus budget bill, the Waxman-Markey bill, HR 3200) that you haven't read and were mostly written by special interests. You have become so reckless in your legislative work and fiscal duties that I, and many other good citizens like me, are truly alarmed.
5. We, unlike many of your colleagues, have read HR 3200. (Written in dense, lawyer speak that makes it extremely hard to read and understand.) We have found its provisions at odds with what we want and primarily aimed at producing - over a period of time - a single payer health insurance system run by the government. When we look at single payer systems in Canada, England, and other countries we don't like what we see, which is rationed healthcare based on bureaucratic decrees. We also do not see how HR 3200 reduces healthcare costs. We wonder what is in the various Senate bills. Hopefully, they are easier to understand and do not aim to make our system over in the likeness of Canada. But we are not confident they will be any better than the House bill. These things alarm us!
6. You, your Democrat colleagues, and President Obama seem to be intent on passing this healthcare reform over the objections of a majority of citizens. This is 1/6th of the nation's economy we're talking about. Even Solomon would be hesitant to take on a complex task such as this in a matter of weeks. This gives us pause and does not engender confidence!
I am just one voice, but I have found others who see the actions of Congress much as I do and we have met freely, peacefully, and publicly to petition you, our representatives, to hear our voices. Yet, Speaker Pelosi has called us hired demonstrators, astro-turfers, or even Nazis. We citizens are shocked and insulted that our representatives would be so disdainful of the voluntary and peaceable assembly of citizens. Shame on Speaker Pelosi and others who have deigned to insult us.
Now, let me tell you what I would like to see in healthcare reform.
I urge first that healthcare reform be slowed down so that the Congress can consider implementing incremental reforms such as the following:
1. Pass malpractice tort reform. Some states have done this to good effect. It would make sense to do it nationwide if we want to reduce costs nationwide.
2. Attempt to cut costs, waste, duplication, and fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. If those programs can be reformed and improved it would greatly improve the on-going fiscal picture for our nation.
3. Put into effect a health insurance exchange allowing nationwide sales of insurance to increase competition in healthcare insurance.
4. Implement a tax benefit for individuals who buy their own insurance so they are not necessarily dependent on their employers for health insurance.
5. Make those who cannot afford to buy health insurance eligible for generous tax credits or even inclusion in Medicaid at some premium that they can afford.
6. Develop an insurance pool composed of all health insurers to insure people who can afford insurance but have pre-existing conditions and cannot get insurance. Implement this so they can buy insurance at premiums they can afford.
Let me tell you this. The actions of this Congress have stirred anger and resentment among citizens who much prefer to worry about other things. But you have, by your actions, (enumerated above) stirred us to action. We are in this to the end. November 2010 is fast approaching, and we are working to retire those who don't/won’t listen to the voters."I am confident that this letter expresses the views of many people who are at the town hall meetings, the TEA Parties, and healthcare protests. It is the pattern of legislative recklessness and fiscal irresponsibility that alarms, yes ALARMS, average citizens. When bills are not read or are written by special interests/lobbyists or are pushed through before the citizentry has a chance to understand and react, it is smacks of authoritarianism that betrays the freedoms we cherish. People like Friedman and other elites really do believe they know what's best for the "little people." I've got a message for him and all those like him, "No. You. Don't!"
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