|
Senator Feinstein,
As an older, fifth generation Californian, with both parents in their eighties, I write to express my disappointment with your support for the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation. I understand you believe you are doing the compassionate thing. That something is better than nothing. But this legislation is dishonest and corrupt and only a cynical compromise could allow anyone to support it in good conscience. I heard you on the radio the other day saying you did not care about the politics of the issue. You expressed similarly admirable virtues when you voted for the Bush tax cut. But I am astonished -- after Florida, after the secret Cheney energy plan, after the administration's role in the California blackout, after Iraq, after being duped again and again, especially after the way this bill was rushed and rammed through the congress before public scrutiny had any hope of finding out what was going on, I am astonished that you still hold onto the illusion that what you are dealing with is just politics as usual. I urge you to read the editorial today in the Washington Post, "Government by Juggernaut" as well as Norman Ornstein's outrage over the way democracy in congress has been abused.
A senior in his 80s said yesterday "I wonder why they're working so hard to give us nothing." We have worked our whole lives not just to get a pittance handout for ourselves but to fight for a principle that as Americans we take care of each other and future generations. You say you will fight to correct the "imperfections" and problems in the current legislation. But, by surrendering, you will insure that, despite your best intentions, you will have no voice or power left to do a thing. You may ignore the political realities if you like, but they will not ignore you. Or us.
Sincerely,
|