Virtual Fridays Without Fitzpatrick (VFWF) 44
In Response To Your 12/10/21 Newsletter
Ten Years of the Fitzpatrick Machine and Systemic Injustices Remain
Congressman Fitzpatrick:
I find it highly ironic and even funny that in your newsletter you hope to obtain moral praise by simply mentioning a wonderful compassionate organization of volunteers, the Advocates For Homeless & Those In Need, who work to provide transportation, hot meals, clothing, and shelter for the Bucks County homeless community when the temperature drops to dangerous levels. Yes, it is appropriate to spread news of their fine work.
But as a legislator with power to change the social system for the better, shouldn’t you be asking yourself why, after ten long years of Fitzpatrick home rule over Bucks County, there are so many homeless people in need? And why is it that volunteer organizations, dependent on the whims of ordinary citizens (who themselves are struggling in an economy where income inequality has ballooned to historic heights) for funding and for volunteer staff, are the only line of defense against sickness and even death for our fellow citizens in dire need?
What has the Fitzpatrick Machine done in ten years to address and end systemic poverty in Bucks County? What have you done to raise the minimum wage to one where it is a living wage capable of providing basic needs of housing, food, and healthcare for hard working citizens?
I know when you took office your first priority was to vote with the Republican herd to provide tax breaks for the rich which increased the national debt so there would be less money to support social programs for those in need. Did anything trickle down to help the homeless in Bucks County? I don’t think so. What was left for them was only the kindness of strangers.
Your Republican Party’s ideology from the Reagan years is that government is the problem and that the free market will give to people what they deserve. And yet those who wish to starve the government so that programs of social justice wither on the vine seem to have no problem spending taxpayer money on subsidies for their rich donors.
Volunteer organizations play a wonderful needed part in American society to deal with critical human needs caused by poorly designed social systems fraught with systemic social injustices. But wise political leaders use their intelligence, compassion, and energy to change the structure of society to achieve social justice so the need for such volunteer organizations would one day no longer be necessary. Have you made this a priority in your legislation? I don’t think so.
So I do not see any moral currency for you by mentioning the fine folks at the Advocates For Homeless & Those In Need who struggle to right the wrongs in a socially unjust society. I rather see the failure of the Fitzpatrick machine which for ten long years has done nothing to end systemic poverty in our midst. And since the root causes remain, these fine volunteers will be condemned to a lifetime of endless work, endless begging for resources, and endless heartache from seeing human misery first hand because of a failure of governmental leadership.
I just donated some money to this fine organization. I could ask if you did as well. But I don’t expect you to donate to every organization you mention in your newsletter. I would rather have you do your job and address systemic social injustices in our county and country with intelligence, compassion, and energy.
In1973, the comedian Robert Klein released an album called “Child of the Fifties.” In one routine, he spoofed absurd desperate pleas made for food and medicine in TV commercials which urged people to send donations to Radio City Post Office boxes. At the end of the routine, Mr. Klein said these wise words : “I look forward to the day when they will not ask private citizens for donations to do what should be done by all of our treasure.”
It is the end of 2021 and we still have not learned that wise lesson and I do not see you even aware of either the problem or the solution which a comedian knew in 1973. Your opposition to Build Back Better legislation, which will attack many systemic injustices in our nation, reveals that you still do not understand what your role in Congress is; namely, to build a better compassionate society for all.
It is clearly time for a change in Congressional leadership here in PA-01. Perhaps you could consider a career change to comedy?