I'm posting the letter I just sent my representative, Randy Forbes (4th-VA), explaining to him why I oppose his candidacy for re-election in my congressional district. I fully expect it to anger him, but that was precisely my intent. Nothing would make me happier than to cast my vote for our own Democratic candidate Andrea Miller, next Tuesday. And I wasn't amused by the futile attempt by the repubs in my state of VA to send out a fake notice yesterday, saying that Democrats vote on Wednesday, November 5th. They're desperate, and desperate people do desperate things, but they're not as smart as they think they are. And we're not as stupid as they want us to be.
If you have no other pressing matters, and are curious, I'd appreciate it if you would follow me under the fold and read my letter to Mister Forbes...
Dear Congressman Randy Forbes,
First, let me introduce myself. I'm one of your constituents. I'm also a free-lance, private-sector inventor, author, historian, life-long Democrat, retired electric motor rewinder, military veteran, blogger and Lt. General's son.
I've had many correspondances and conversations with your staff since you were first sent to Washington. We disagree on many political issues and I've never voted for you on that basis, starting with your opposition to raising the FMW, restoring only the purchasing power that was lost during the 10 years it wasn't passed, but during a period when Congress saw fit to raise their own pay three times, while spending taxpayer dollars faster than a drunken sailor--but not ending there.
If the people of the 4th District send you back to Washington again, it won't be because I voted for you. I simply won't vote for anyone who supported the war criminal, torturing, extraordinary renditioning, warrantlessly wiretapping and surveilling, Constitution-usurping, economy busting, American concentration camp-building, George Bush over 95% of the time.
Now let me present my suggestion to you for the best way you can help innovators like myself to submit their ideas to help our nation with new and improved inventions. First, it shouldn't cost $5,000 for anyone that isn't already independently wealthy or backed by the greedy corporatists, to file for and obtain a patent on their idea. One shouldn't have to be on the Pentagon's white list of "approved" contractors to get a fair hearing on their invention.
In December of 2005, in response to the horrific losses on the Iraq battlefield, due to IED's, roadside bombs and RPG's, I designed a combat vehicle with an IED-resistant, multi-vehicle adaptable shield, that I first offered to our government gratis.
I submitted it to the Pentagon in February of 2006, after only taking 3 months to complete the final design. For the next 6 months(twice as long as it took me to finish my design!), all I got was the runaround. Meanwhile, our casualties kept mounting day by day, and month by month.
Finally, the Pentagon introduced into the Iraq theatre its own version of my vehicle, the MRAP, which just so happens to have my (un-patented) V-shaped hull. I never submitted my portable shield. It sits in my vault, and there it will stay. Because of the way the Pentagon simply dismissed me out-of-hand, it is not for sale to them at any price! And I will now burn it before they get their greedy, war profiteering hands on it.
But throughout all of this laughable comedy of errors, you, Mister Forbes, are not absolved from any guilt in this matter; I contacted both you and Senator Warner for assistance on this matter, contacting your offices several times in 2006, both my phone, letter, and by email. At no time did I receive any help at all, so forgive me if I don't trust you now. But you supposedly represent me, so I have to deal with you. But the blood of those brave troops who lost their lives because they didn't have the best protection available, is on you and Senator Warner's hands.
My third invention is really the one that excites me the most. I have designed an automobile propulsion system that does not depend on, or run on fossil fuels. Am I going to submit it to anyone without first patenting it? Don't bet your life on it. No I am not.
This is where you come in, Mister Forbes. If you are still in office next year, I have one request or project for you to consider. It would greatly assist private sector, free-lance inventors such as myself, if Congress would pass legislation making it easier for ANYONE to obtain a patent in the US. Do you understand how this would reap immediate benefits for our own economy? First, it would stop foreign companies from beating us to the punch and marketing their ideas before we even successfully navigate the maze of stumbling blocks the current patenting system heaps onto our backs. Then, just think how many factories, how many jobs, and how much tax revenue is lost every time an inventor here cannot submit their ideas, based on the lack of funds to purchase a measely piece of paper from the US Patent Office!
So, if you think I'm going to submit any more ideas, or any of my inventions for consideration to anyone, within the confines of the current restrictive, antequated, corporate empire-favoring patenting system, you sir, are sadly mistaken. I will go to my grave with the next gasoline-independently operating automobile propulsion system, before I pay one cent for a patent. Why? Because I think that if, through my gift of genius, that I can help my nation become energy independent, why should I also have to pay for the right to even protect my idea from corporate raiders? No, it's not going to happen.
Thank you for any assistance you may feel compelled-or not, to give in catalyzing the necessary changes that must be made, if America is to once again be the economic, not just military leaders of the free world.
I am, sincerely yours,
ImpeachKingBushII
So I think this may or may not get Mister Forbes' attention. You see, my district voted for him 78% last cycle, and I was "forced" to vote Green(ack!), either that or stay home and sit on my vote. Not so this time. We have a Democrat running against him this time! But my point tonight is, without belaboring the point is that I believe that if a President Obama really intends to re-build America's infrastructure and industrial base, charity begins at home!