Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Jim's Place

My recent letter to my representatives:

Dear Senator/Congressman,

I take this opportunity to write and express my extreme frustration, and anger, in the current ongoing ‘debate’ over Health Care Reform; and specifically the so-called Public Option.

I have been a lifelong supporter, and occasional member, of the Democratic Party because it most closely approximates my feelings of equality and social justice. The current state of our health care system is an abomination and embarrassment compared with other advanced nations. The idea that we should be solely at the mercy of a profit driven system for life sustaining health care is beyond immoral.

With the election of Barak Obama and a majority of Democrats in both houses of Congress, I and most other progressive minded supporters naively believed we were on the cusp of meaningful change in issues ranging from the conduct of national policy, to the all important issue of health care. Instead, what we are faced with is the continuation of far too many of the failed policies of the Bush years, and a capitulation to the conservative minority on issues of social justice.

Until the Democratic Party displays the necessary courage and resolve to put the voters’ mandate into meaningful policy change (an equitable national health care policy, financial regulation with real teeth, and a more thorough reevaluation of our failed foreign policy), I will find it impossible to provide active support of Democratic candidates who seem to have lost sight of the progressive mission.

I believe it’s time that our elected majority accept the fact that WE WON THE ELECTION! Take example from your Republican predecessors and forge ahead with the policy change you promised. For their many failures, Republican’s don’t appear at all concerned with focusing on ‘bi-partisanship’ when they’re in power, and are willing to use any election mandate, real or concocted, to forward their right-wing ideology. Have the past 8 years taught us nothing?

Respectfully,

Jim's Place

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