This is a letter I wrote my representative tonight.  I’m no writer, but I felt better when I clicked send.  I was a bit pissed off that his response page said that it was too difficult to respond to letters given the ease at which electronic means allowed questions and comments to be submitted.  I’m sure he gets a lot of email (especially lately,) but let’s keep in mind that these reps have a part time job  -  I expect more, even if it’s a minion sending a canned reply.  I would encourage you to send your representative a letter to ensure if nothing else, that it was not your fault that the country went to hell in a hand-basket on our watch.   ~ sb

Mr. Pastor, I’m a registered republican in your district that has voted for you in the past two elections. I lead off with this to ensure that you know that I’m not about partisan politics and I hope you are not either. I live in the historical part of Phoenix because I believe that it’s worth saving and I’m surrounded with great people that are of similar minds. Our neighborhood is not rich, yet we are not poor; rather we are the group that lives modest lives to ensure we can take care of our families in good times and bad, save for the future, and enjoy our lives, homes and freedoms. We grow gardens, have neighborhood meetings, picnics, raise our families, etc. When our home values tripled, we didn’t take out the equity to buy quads, boats or other luxury items. We stood steadfast knowing that our home values were based on a market that has ups and downs.

With that said, I find myself very disturbed and even angry at where the congress and this administration is taking this country. We are a country founded on the principals that everyone has the right to life, liberty and the “pursuit” of happiness; only the last is not assured by our constitution. I’m not sure why, but we seem to be reinforcing all the wrong things lately. Get over your head on your mortgage – we’ll bail you out. Screw up your company (assuming you’re big enough) well bail you out. Don’t choose to buy health insurance – we will make a system that will cover you on the backs of your fellow citizens. None of these issues are the role of the federal government.

When do we tell the unaccountable to stand up and be responsible? When do we stop rewarding the wrong behaviors? When do we recognize that the private sector, complete with market forces, effective oversight, and competition will always lead to a better, more cost effective solution than a single option system. Will it always be fair to everyone? No, but neither is the bill that has been proposed for heath care. It leaves millions uncovered and saddles the country with a bill that we cannot pay. I’m sure you have read the CBO’s report which concludes that the bill is estimated to far exceed the existing numbers. And, if the Arizona welfare programs which started as a modest $200 million and now have exceeded 1.2 billion dollars (1 billion of which is not funded) are any indication, this health care reform has a really good chance of bankrupting the country. I know we all think in the back of our mind, “that can’t happen, but take a moment and imagine what if?” Would a completely unfunded program be of benefit to more or less of your constituents? Would a government that is reduced to self preservation, defending our borders, be of better service to the citizenry that the one we have today, ten years ago, or even the meager one that founded our republic?



I ask you to stop and consider the following:

STOP SPENDING!!

If I ran my household like we run our budget as a country, I would be bankrupt and more than likely facing jail time. It’s unacceptable that we would be spending in a manner that far, far outstrips the Bush administration, complete with its two wars. There has been a lot of talk lately about divisive parties controlling the topics of the day. I ask that you rise above the fray and lead like you have in the past:

• Call for spirited debate (as the president did), but when you do it, don’t run if you don’t like what you hear. Listen with the intent to understand the constituents that you took an oath to represent. Then, act on their behalf, and to their will, with disregard for the politics at play.

• Budget neutral spending is not good enough. Call for a reduction in spending and government like the rest of the households in America do in this time of recession (yet another thing that the constitution does not call on you to “fix.”)

• Finally, defend our freedoms like you’re not exempt from the programs you pass. I think we’ve have had enough lip service, from enough politicians over the years to have the right to be highly skeptical of what they are promising. If the president doesn’t support death panels, make sure that the bill will not allow them. Say what you mean, and do what you say.
• Push crime legislation – My house has be robbed three times and my vehicles twice as were those of countless neighbors. My wife is scared to come home alone when I’m out of town and I carry my most coveted possessions on me as I’m afraid to leave them in my home. Why are we not fighting those who prey on the participating members of society instead of creating programs that help prop them up?

Mr. Pastor, I’m sure you get letters like this all the time so I’m not delusional enough to think that you would take this simple advice from one of your residents. In all actuality, I have lost faith that all our elected officials have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for America, for the citizens – for what’s right. That is the one down side of a Republic – the citizens don’t have actual control over what you do. So knowing that, I can assure you that I do have control over what I do, and if you vote for this abomination of legislation that will very likely bankrupt this country, I will no longer be an advocate for you, and will in fact do all that is within my power to ensure you are not re-elected in 2010.