I am getting ready for a trip abroad for 3 weeks starting tomorrow. At the last minute, I decided to dash an e-mail to my senator which I have been thinking about, but had been postponing forever. Because I realized I won't be here for the State of the Union speech where the so-called "deficit reduction" is expected to be a key theme. I decided to send this email today - better late than never.
Without much ado, here is what I sent :
These days there is talk from the elites (political/media) that we need to make "tough choices", have "adult conversations" and the need to make "shared sacrifices" when it comes to dealing with the deficit. TO me, all that language sounds dishonest and those are all code words for attacking Social security & Medicare & imposing more regressive taxes , besides privatization of public utilities/services. I am appalled that you want a vote on the regressive Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction proposal. While you say you don't agree with all of
Bowles-Simpson proposal, how about clearly stating what among those proposals you support and what you oppose? I hope you are aware that
social security does not contribute to the deficits and it is a pay-go system, it has never been "A DAY LATE, NOR A DOLLAR SHORT", and
it is running a surplus. And that Medicare by itself is not a problem, but suffers from our inefficient health care system. Instead of the regressive Bowles-Simpson proposal, I request you to take some initiative and promote the progressive deficit reduction proposal by
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
You voted for the budget busting Bush-Obama tax cuts with the excuse that it is one of the toughest votes you have taken. You voted for
the TARP giveaway for Wall street. Please don't tell us it is a success and the money has been paid back. Nothing is further from the truth. Wall street hasn't paid for the mass destruction they caused - millions lost in jobs,homes, savings, not to mention the collateral damage - homelessness, suicides, depression, bankruptcies, cuts in public services, screwed up public sector pensions etc. By the way, I am one of those who lost their jobs in the financial mass destruction. And you voted against breaking up of TOO BIG TO FAIL banks. It is disgusting, to say the least. Now, how about making Wall street pay for the crisis they created - a financial transactions tax (for short-term speculative investors only)? This is a win-win, curbing the Wall street casino while raising valuable revenue for the government.
As for "shared sacrifices", I say this : we the bottom 98% have sacrificed enough over the last 30 years via reduction in real income,
off-shoring of jobs, regressive taxation while the cost of basic necessities kept going up. Demanding more sacrifices from us sounds
elitist and out-of-touch. I request you and your colleagues to force the top 2% and Wall street sacrifice their share.
I have contacted the senator in the past to talk about the subject at various times. But been slacking in the last month or so. Finally today....
Please share in the comments if I am being rude in my language. Appreciate your feedback. And , not that I am a great writer, but feel free to steal points and send comments to your representatives.