Open Letter to our Democratic Representatives

Honorable Members,

In the Novembers of 2006 and 2008 your constituents went to the polls and voted for change, real change. The results of these elections were a real mandate, something not seen in this country for decades. And you have done nothing. For the sake of “bi‐partisanship” you have deadlocked government and may have spent any political capital gained. This cannot be blamed on Republicans. The lack of leadership is astounding and stagnation of mandated policy change rests squarely on your shoulders. As a loyal member of the Democratic Party, I offer the following:

• As a country, we have erroneously bought into the idea that the wealthy and the corporations drive our economy. Supply side economics are bunk. Economies are driven by consumers, the middle class. We mandated that our government implement social policy and tax reform that would strengthen the middle and lower classes and put
disposable income into the pockets of people that would dispose of the income; and end the re‐distribution of wealth to the wealthy so they may enhance their portfolios. Believe me, if a 10M dollar earner only nets 8M next year; no
one will be bothered. Adam Smith economic policy has been proven ill‐advised and is most certainly antiquated. Do something.

• The wall between investment banks and commercial banks must be restored and the teeth that were pulled from our regulatory institutions must be re‐instated. You don’t need to be an economic guru to understand that the
Gramm‐Leach‐Bliley act is a complete failure and the financial industry has left middle America holding the tab. Currently these institutions are going down the same path that brought us to the brink of economic disaster in the first place.
Unconscionable. Please act, sooner than later.

• Health care costs are bleeding our economy white. And again, average Americans are bearing the brunt of the monetary weight. We should eliminate the 65 and over restriction from Medicare and allow everyone to participate. And we should also allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs with the pharmaceutical industry. By allowing the pool of healthy 24‐64 year olds on the rolls and paying premiums, and negotiating health care fees; this widely popular program would be adequately funded. This still leaves room for the private health insurance industry to sell
supplements and outright replacements as they do now with the senior community. This is a no‐brainer people.

• Fund Social Security. The 6% tax capped at 100K isn’t doing the job. And once again, middle America bears the brunt of funding this program. At a tax rate of
1‐1/2% and no cap, the Social Security program would be adequately funded
for the foreseeable future; and the lifestyles of the 100K plus earners would not be adversely affected. Am I missing something here?

• Continue the work you are doing in the renewable and clean energy programs. It is an ecological and national security imperative that we wean ourselves from our dependence on fossil fuels. I’ll give you a solid “C” here, but there is
much to be done.

In closing, please stop shitting your pants every time there is a negative bump in the polls or if a Republican says boo concerning these issues. We put you in office largely based on your promises pertaining to these issues. Be assured; we will not
abandon you for doing what we sent you to Washington DC to do.

Your Loyal Constituent (for the time being)