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Dear Representative:
A wide majority of American citizens are adamantly opposed to the Obama / Pelosi / Reid (take your choice) Healthcare bills. Surely, you must know this without any doubt. Most Americans applaud the stance that you and the other Blue Dog Democrats have taken to date on these financially disastrous and unsustainable bills. Regardless of party affiliations, every American who is truly well-informed about this issue understands the fiscal Armageddon that passage of this plan will produce.
Make no mistake, those of us opposed to the bills are extremely well informed. We come from all backgrounds and levels of education and we have been forced, by this out of control Administration, to learn more about this and other issues than we ever wished to. And, we resent the fact that we must take time out of living our lives to immerse ourselves in the shenanigans taking place on Capitol Hill so that our Nation’s future and our childrens’ futures aren’t thrown away simply for ideological reasons. Mr. Obama’s pledge today to his uber-Progressive friends that “the public option will still be gained”, despite the overwhelming public opposition to such a plan, provides clear and convincing evidence that, from his perspective at least, this is an ideological battle. Is America a free market capitalistic nation or is it not? The resolution of the healthcare issue will provide the answer. We implore you! Do NOT permit yourself and your vote to be used as an implement for the incremental (and more assaults will be coming) destruction of the best economic system in the history of mankind.
We in the opposition, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, respect you for your position on matters of fiscal responsibility. I share those beliefs with you, and in that spirit, I would like to remind you of certain aspects of the Senate bill that you will be asked to vote for that are financially insane. The Administration has been profoundly disingenuous with respect to many of the bill’s provisions. So much so, that those Americans armed with the real facts are insulted by the rhetoric and the tone taken by the Administration. Generally, those opposed to this legislation are angered by the way supporters insult our intelligence. How in good conscience can any elected representative agree to a bill that involves the following (most amounts are rounded, but materially accurate)?
• Federal cost of the program, as presented, over the next ten years of $900 billion. Administration rhetoric aside, this is $900 billion in NEW spending.
• Through the magic of political slight of hand, the cost above conveniently excludes $250 billion worth of additional “cost” associated with the Jobs Bill “Doctor Fix”. Another insult to our intelligence.
• Fortunately, the plan will reduce the federal deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years. I should hope so. If the American taxpayer funds a program for ten years but the program expenditures cover only five or so years, shouldn’t a deficit reduction be expected? Insulting!
• In the budget out years when the plan is both funded and expended, i.e., the revenues and costs are “matched-up”, the healthcare plan will increase the federal deficit by something on the order of $4 to $6 trillion. How stupid are we?
Since we agree that fiscal responsibility is something that is badly needed in today’s world, I will leave the hard facts concerning dollars and cents. We opponents of the healthcare bills simply cannot conceive of how any of our elected leaders could possibly support jumping off of this cliff.
There are a myriad of other factors contributing to the majority’s (citizen’s, not political party’s) opposition to this bill. Many of these other factors may be issues upon which we disagree. Certainly, the healthcare system can be improved, and we should make every reasonable effort to make those improvements. However, a recent poll indicated that over 70% of all Americans are satisfied with their current healthcare situation. Why dismantle a system with such broad support at a cost that can best be described as insane? The bills floating around do NOT bend the cost curve. Before committing financial suicide, why not wring out of the system the “$500 billion in Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse”? Assuming, of course, that it’s actually there. If it isn’t, the budget deficit “reduction” discussed above is nothing more than Obama rhetoric. The American people are NOT this stupid!
Your Staff may choose to ignore this letter as I am not one of your constituents, and I understand that this has been the norm on Capitol Hill forever. Hopefully, this is not the case, but if it is, I would point out the following. Before each term of Congress, you and all your colleagues take the Oath of Office that begins, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…” No mention is made of your own state and the citizens of America, regardless of location, are entitled to your defense of that Constitution. Upon an objective reading of the Constitution, it is unfathomable that anyone would conclude that many provisions of these healthcare bills are NOT Constitutional.
Lastly, I realize full well that you will be under tremendous pressure from the Administration in coming days to place aside your own values, principles, and ethics in favor of its agenda. During these trying days, we would implore you to hold steadfast to your beliefs. While the President and big labor in particular will be twisting your arm and threatening you, please Representative, stand up and loudly and proudly proclaim that you are supporting the citizens of the United States and that you are supporting and defending the Constitution as you have sworn to do. Most of America will be praying for you as you are being subjected to unimaginable pressures. God bless you and God bless America.
Sincerely,
A wide majority of American citizens are adamantly opposed to the Obama / Pelosi / Reid (take your choice) Healthcare bills. Surely, you must know this without any doubt. Most Americans applaud the stance that you and the other Blue Dog Democrats have taken to date on these financially disastrous and unsustainable bills. Regardless of party affiliations, every American who is truly well-informed about this issue understands the fiscal Armageddon that passage of this plan will produce.
Make no mistake, those of us opposed to the bills are extremely well informed. We come from all backgrounds and levels of education and we have been forced, by this out of control Administration, to learn more about this and other issues than we ever wished to. And, we resent the fact that we must take time out of living our lives to immerse ourselves in the shenanigans taking place on Capitol Hill so that our Nation’s future and our childrens’ futures aren’t thrown away simply for ideological reasons. Mr. Obama’s pledge today to his uber-Progressive friends that “the public option will still be gained”, despite the overwhelming public opposition to such a plan, provides clear and convincing evidence that, from his perspective at least, this is an ideological battle. Is America a free market capitalistic nation or is it not? The resolution of the healthcare issue will provide the answer. We implore you! Do NOT permit yourself and your vote to be used as an implement for the incremental (and more assaults will be coming) destruction of the best economic system in the history of mankind.
We in the opposition, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, respect you for your position on matters of fiscal responsibility. I share those beliefs with you, and in that spirit, I would like to remind you of certain aspects of the Senate bill that you will be asked to vote for that are financially insane. The Administration has been profoundly disingenuous with respect to many of the bill’s provisions. So much so, that those Americans armed with the real facts are insulted by the rhetoric and the tone taken by the Administration. Generally, those opposed to this legislation are angered by the way supporters insult our intelligence. How in good conscience can any elected representative agree to a bill that involves the following (most amounts are rounded, but materially accurate)?
• Federal cost of the program, as presented, over the next ten years of $900 billion. Administration rhetoric aside, this is $900 billion in NEW spending.
• Through the magic of political slight of hand, the cost above conveniently excludes $250 billion worth of additional “cost” associated with the Jobs Bill “Doctor Fix”. Another insult to our intelligence.
• Fortunately, the plan will reduce the federal deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years. I should hope so. If the American taxpayer funds a program for ten years but the program expenditures cover only five or so years, shouldn’t a deficit reduction be expected? Insulting!
• In the budget out years when the plan is both funded and expended, i.e., the revenues and costs are “matched-up”, the healthcare plan will increase the federal deficit by something on the order of $4 to $6 trillion. How stupid are we?
Since we agree that fiscal responsibility is something that is badly needed in today’s world, I will leave the hard facts concerning dollars and cents. We opponents of the healthcare bills simply cannot conceive of how any of our elected leaders could possibly support jumping off of this cliff.
There are a myriad of other factors contributing to the majority’s (citizen’s, not political party’s) opposition to this bill. Many of these other factors may be issues upon which we disagree. Certainly, the healthcare system can be improved, and we should make every reasonable effort to make those improvements. However, a recent poll indicated that over 70% of all Americans are satisfied with their current healthcare situation. Why dismantle a system with such broad support at a cost that can best be described as insane? The bills floating around do NOT bend the cost curve. Before committing financial suicide, why not wring out of the system the “$500 billion in Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse”? Assuming, of course, that it’s actually there. If it isn’t, the budget deficit “reduction” discussed above is nothing more than Obama rhetoric. The American people are NOT this stupid!
Your Staff may choose to ignore this letter as I am not one of your constituents, and I understand that this has been the norm on Capitol Hill forever. Hopefully, this is not the case, but if it is, I would point out the following. Before each term of Congress, you and all your colleagues take the Oath of Office that begins, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…” No mention is made of your own state and the citizens of America, regardless of location, are entitled to your defense of that Constitution. Upon an objective reading of the Constitution, it is unfathomable that anyone would conclude that many provisions of these healthcare bills are NOT Constitutional.
Lastly, I realize full well that you will be under tremendous pressure from the Administration in coming days to place aside your own values, principles, and ethics in favor of its agenda. During these trying days, we would implore you to hold steadfast to your beliefs. While the President and big labor in particular will be twisting your arm and threatening you, please Representative, stand up and loudly and proudly proclaim that you are supporting the citizens of the United States and that you are supporting and defending the Constitution as you have sworn to do. Most of America will be praying for you as you are being subjected to unimaginable pressures. God bless you and God bless America.
Sincerely,
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