Senator Merkley,
I do appreciate your response, but am confused. Actually, I hope I am just confused and you don't actually disagree with everything I wrote. It is my hope that you just used "while we may disagree" as a blanket to address everything without getting into a timely and drawn out reply - also known as the easy way out.
Please, if you find the time, to confirm or deny the following.
You stated you disagree with my views. So, in short you:
Don't believe in government transparency and deem it appropriate to hide, what should be public, information from the taxpayers and citizens of this great nation.
Believe double-standards are okay and that certain groups should be entitled to benefits that other groups (union vs. non-union in my example) are not entitled to or must pay different amounts in taxes.
Do believe there should be more anti-firearm laws rather than enforce the current laws already in place.
Do believe there should be a mandatory, national healthcare system in place though the majority of citizens in this country are against it.
Is okay to continue to spend as the current administration is doing and do not think it is out of control.
Do not feel there should be stricter tolerances on illegal immigration and that it is okay for illegal (aka criminal) immigrants should be able to remain here without deportation, while receiving taxpayer assistance though many (or most) are not paying taxes.
And finally, which would be scary if true, when you said you disagree with me, you essentially stated that you do not believe you work for the people, the citizens, the taxpayers, the voters. Do you really hold that to be true?
Your statement of "while we may disagree" was vague, to say the least. If that is true, however, then everything above must also be true as well.
Once again, I appreciate the response, but your response brings up more questions and concerns. I hope you can find the time to address them, without going into huge detail, but while answering my concerns, mind you.
Massachusetts was quite a statement and I hope all in public service (serving the people, not interest groups, not anyone else) took notice and did not take it lightly.
Respectfully,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear Anthony,
Thank you for contacting me to share your views. While we may disagree, please know that I respect your opinion.
As a United States Senator, I represent all Oregonians, including those with whom I disagree. Sometimes I cast votes that are unpopular with certain constituents, but this does not mean I take your concerns lightly. It is the nature of democracy that the people of Oregon, and the nation, will be divided on some issues.
However, I believe it is with those whom we disagree we must pay particular attention. It is important to have our assumptions challenged. Not everyone will always agree with me, but Oregonians should expect me to listen to their concerns and to be honest and straightforward with my answers.
Please stay in touch.
All my best,
Jeff Merkley
United States Senate"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the presidential campaign we kept hearing the slogan "change we can count on" over and over. Obama certainly talked a big game and made promises. One of the first things that comes to mind is transparency. We can see what is going on in the government, but that has been the exact opposite of what has been happening. We're not getting transparency, we're getting closed-door deals where we don't know what is going on. Many of them. We want to know what is going on. We, I, want him to hold himself to what he promised us.
Double standards or special deals for groups that supported him. I'm tired of double-standards. This new healthcare tax issue is making me upset and getting old fast. Why should a certain group of unions get tax deals while everyone else has to pay more for their "cadillac" health package deals? What happened to equality? The way it looks is that, hey if you vote for me, I'll cut you a special deal. If not, too bad.
Firearms: he said he didn't oppose law-abiding citizens from owning them and, etc, etc... I haven't seen him personally put anything out against gun ownership, but I'm constantly seeing more and more anti-gun proposals. We don't need more laws to take more guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens, we just need to enforce the laws we have.
And I touched on healthcare and want to continue on that briefly. I don't want a government mandated program! I want smaller government, not larger. I don't want to have a government which constantly says we need more and you kind of have a choice about it, but not really. The majority of the people don't want it.
It is time that government stated listening to its citizens and what they want instead of a few people at the top deciding, "Hey this sounds good, lets do it even though it isn't what the country wants. It only matters what I think they want or should have."
Stop spending. Stop spending more and more and more taxpayer money! This is a bad trend we're in and it must reverse. Not for us, but for the generations to come. We cannot continue on this path if we want the United States to succeed. Cut programs that don't work. Slash funding for programs that don't work or aren't wanted. Stop the earmarks on bills submitted, just do what needs to be done rather than pushing for personal agendas or repaying a favor that got you something in return in the government.
Lastly, illegal immigration. I'm for immigration, but am completely against illegal immigration. It needs to stop, now! Stop worrying about offending someone all the time and start doing what needs to be done in this nation. Kick them out if they're here illegally. Tighten border security. Stop giving them a free ride! No free schools, no free healthcare, no drivers license, no anything but a trip back home and a better way to keep them home. Would you let someone come into your home uninvited, eat your food, drive your car, raid your house for medicine? No. Why would you let them do that to your country then?
I haven't been too involved politically, but I'm starting to pay more attention. It is time for the government to stop doing what it wants and start doing what its citizens want. You work for us, we don't work for you. Let me say that again as some of those elected seem to have forgotten that. You work for us, we don't work for you! We're finally starting to watch, starting to pay attention. I can't speak for everyone, but those who aren't doing what I think is best aren't going to get my vote. I will vote for the other person, no matter what political party they're affiliated with. That is a guarantee. That is change you can count on! Not doing a good job of representing the people, you're fired. You don't work for Congress, you don't work for the President, you work for the people.
Patiently waiting and watching,
