There has been much frustration, anger, and disgust expressed on dKos since the President announced his Raw Deal last night. In order to analyze my personal feelings about the issue, I decided to do one of the things I do best, which is to write. In this case, I wrote letters to both of my senators, Casey and Specter. I'm sharing them here as inspiration for others. The cynic in me says writing to politicians won't make a difference but my idealistic side convinces me to try anyway. (I think that's why I'm a progressive, because the idealistic side always wins!)
Anyway, here's my letter. Use any or all of it, if you wish.
12-7-2010
Dear Senator,
I'm writing about the tax cut and unemployment extension "deal" announced by President Obama last night. Like many Democrats, I'm terribly disappointed by the specifics of the agreement. The inclusion of very high income taxpayers in the tax cuts will do little, if anything, to improve the overall American economy, yet it will cost trillions of dollars that will have to be paid for eventually, if not by me and my husband then by our children or grandchildren. The inheritance tax breaks are similarly bad for the economy and, since someone still has to pay for the functions of our government, lowering inheritance taxes serves only to allow the already-wealthy and powerful to accumulate more wealth at the expense of working-class Americans.
What do we working-class Americans get in return? We get the tax breaks and, importantly, some of the unemployed will get a 13-month continuation of unemployment benefits (which is, of course, 9 months shorter than the extension of the tax cuts). In terms of returning dollars to the economy, it has been shown that unemployment benefits are an effective way to stimulate a slow economy because people who depend on these funds must necessarily spend them, usually very quickly. However, it is my understanding after checking several news web sites that the benefits extension doesn't apply to the so-called 99ers, who are often in a most desperate situation.
Is this really the best deal the White House could get? Will there be any opportunities to modify it as it moves through Congress? I ask you to do everything you can to make this agreement better for working-class Americans and their families. Many economists agree that deficit spending by the federal government is necessary during a recession, so I don't have a problem with the concept. However, if you're going to expand the deficit, the least you can do is make it more beneficial for the neediest (the 99ers) and not make working families subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy.
Interstingly, the email page on Specter's website at senate.gov isn't working and I can't find another email for him. I printed out the letter to send him a hard copy instead.