I’ve been “railing” against republicans on this site since I educated myself on the true origins of our invasion of Iraq during the Bush/Cheney regime (an act of illegal, dishonest belligerence that will evidently go sans accountability due to President Obama’s unwillingness to honor his pledge to uphold the constitution and the laws of the land) and I’ve been reading as much as I can in an attempt to better understand our national issues and what might be done to solve them.  Repeatedly, I’ve stated I’m a lifelong “independent” voter – although, since the days of the “Reagan Revolution” I’ve tended to be a supporter of democrats by default.  About 3 years ago the district I live in voted a young lady who is a republican to the House of Representatives (Jaimie Herrera Beutler).  As I do often (also, with the Senators from my state – Washington) I email her regarding my concerns over certain issues.  The more I do this, the more I realize why so many Americans are getting TURNED OFF by the “state” of our political system.

I’ll give a good example of what I mean.  I have many friends who are in their mid to late fifties to early sixties who’ve found themselves unemployed – some for the first time in their lives.  Some of these good people are losing homes they’ve lived in for over 20 years – or being forced to sell homes they’ve been in since the home was built many years ago.  I’m not even sure of how many of these people will be affected by the federal government cutting off extended benefits for the long term unemployed – I just think of them every time that issue comes up.  To me, with what I’ve learned about the “meltdown” of 2008 (which is when many of these people saw their lives turned “upside down”) and the people responsible along with the government’s response (Trillions of dollars sent to Wall Street) I have a very difficult time understanding why Congress would fail to extend these benefits – at least until our “jobless rate” gets below 5 or 6%.  Keep in mind, when the government statistics say unemployment is at 7% – I believe the ACTUAL rate of unemployment is closer to TWICE that amount.  And, that doesn’t even take into consideration the number of people who are under-employed.

So, I sent an email (which was generated from an online solicitation) to Representative Herrera encouraging her to (and knowing that as a republican she can’t) vote to extend these benefits.  In return I got the usual “canned” response to the inquiry that her staff puts together in an attempt to appease those who might contact her.  (I’m sure this is the “normal” way of doing “business” for every person in Congress) However, this time her response included a “mini lecture” on the need for further deregulation of the banks as a way to stimulate job growth – suggesting that was what should be done and inferring a no vote for the extended unemployment.  The day I received her response was the day AFTER I finished Joseph Stiglitz’ “FreeFall” – a detailed book which clearly explains the cause of the crash of 2008 (bursting of the “housing bubble”) and critiques the government response.  In a “nutshell” Ms Beutler’s response made me a bit angry.  So, I decided I would clarify my position for her.

What followed was me finding her website (the URL she included in her response was not valid – which I found curious on its own merits – why would a sitting member of Congress not know her own web address?) and, this time, writing an EXTENDED response that was not generated from an online source.  I pointed out to Ms Beutler many of the deregulations that have been enacted since the “Reagan Revolution” have led to this “bailout” and several others preceding it (if you’re as old as me you probably remember the “Savings and Loan crisis” which happened in the 80’s – and, curiously enough – one of the Bush brothers was right in the middle of that one too).  To suggest that the solution for the 1.3 MILLION Americans who will lose unemployment benefits is more deregulation is ABSURD.  I shared that thought with Representative Beutler.  I also reminded her that every dollar “invested” in unemployment benefits returns almost twice that amount ($1.70) to the economy.  People spend that money.  We have a consumer based economy – when you pull that money out of the “system” it will lead to LESS CONSUMERS!  (and, likely, more unemployment)

When I finished with my latest correspondence with my representative, as usual, I felt better.  Even though I know there’s disagreement, I felt as if I’m doing my small part to be part of the “process.”  As I teach my 6th graders, I want them to grow up to be responsible, productive, participating members of our society.  We “get” to govern ourselves – with that goes responsibility.  I’m often frustrated by the lack of will of my peers to participate in the process more than reading (or listening to) the “talking points.”  Well, the response I got from Ms. Beutler pretty much says it all – explains why so many people just “hunker down” and try to take care of their “own space.”  I got the EXACT same “canned” letter back from representative Beutler that I had just “taken apart” in my response to the first one.  Even though I know they don’t read the mail (they “require” you to identify whether you’re a Mr., Ms., or Mrs., and you MUST give a topic before they’ll accept an email – evidently, to make it easier to get that “canned” response out quickly) I held out hope that someone would notice that my response was TO THEIR response.  Of course, that would put me into the naivete or idealistic or optimistic, or FOOLISH category, wouldn’t it?

While writing this post, my son happened into my study and I listened to his frustration at being a very bright young man who works hard and is, at least to this point, confined to the world of minimum wage jobs.  In his case, some of the issue is his own doing, but he makes very valid points about how the corporate interests are prohibiting workers from unionizing and how they do everything they can to prevent workers from even gaining benefits – like health insurance, vacation pay, sick pay, overtime pay, etc.  The “bosses” feel empowered to intimidate workers and creating the atmosphere that you could lose your job, at the bosses discretion, at any moment.  I’m seeing this same attitude being “pushed” into the education community.  I’ve been a teacher for over 20 years, and the attacks on public education are “ramping up.” The republicans I’ve been “railing” against have aligned themselves with the extreme “right” elements of our society and we’ve been “slipping” backwards since the day Reagan moved into the White House.

In my heart I keep telling myself, for instance, if she could vote her conscience, Representative Beutler would not withdraw support for all these workers (I’m guessing a large percentage of them are over 50) who are about to become even more financially desperate.  I believe she MUST send these “canned” responses (which are pre-programmed for her by her “bosses”) in order to receive the money that will allow her to be re-elected.  Any deviation, I’m sure, means a well funded “primary” opponent.  People like the Koch brothers, the Coors family, The Walton family (Walmart heirs), the DeVoss family, Karl Rove and his supporters, etc., etc. – have adopted the authoritarian principles of leaders who bring disgust to the minds of Americans my age (I’ll let you figure out who I’m talking about).  I’ve written several times about “The Family” (Read Jeff Sharlet’s “The Family”) a group of “conservatives” who proclaim authoritarian principles in the name of Jesus.  These people have enough money to make it EXTREMELY difficult to stop them – they are behind the “Tea Party” movement and the now OVERT attempts to finish dismantling the remnants of the New Deal of FDR.  Along with the “dominionists” in the Christian community, they have “hijacked” the republican party – so, even if Representative Beutler wanted to support extending benefits to the long term unemployed, it would be political suicide.  The people behind the scenes of the present day republicans don’t believe in any unemployment benefits, let alone extended ones.

But just think what that means for the rest of us.  If we keep voting these people (republicans with the “sheep” mentality) we’ll continue to lose the benefits our fathers (and mothers) and grandfathers (and grandmothers) fought so valiantly for back in the 30’s and 40’s – and, some of us fought for in the 60’s.  This was a “we” nation in my youth – up until the so-called “Reagan Revolution” and we’ve been losing more and more ground to the selfish few at the top of the “wealth ladder” ever since.  For the Christians who blindly vote republican because of the abortion issue I would just say look around you at the people who are going to be even worse off because our republican congress won’t extend benefits to the long term unemployed.  While I’m sure there are some “deadbeats” “gaming” the system, most of the people in this situation are genuinely desperate for work that is not there.  Instead of cutting their benefits we should be finding ways to stimulate our economy by creating jobs that would allow them to regain their self-respect.  I went through this in the early 90’s and will be forever grateful for the employment security department which “retrained” me so that I could then teach 6th graders.  In my mind, anyone who doesn’t understand the value of supporting our workers as they are necessarily retrained – due to circumstances beyond their control – is either not paying attention to reality or they’re watching Fox “news” or listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh.  If you fall into that category – with all due respect – SHAME ON YOU!

If you read this and it’s not yet time for Congress to recess (that’s right, they’re planning to go home to their warm and wealthy homes and leave these struggling workers in the “lurch”) call your congress person and  let them know what you think.  I will tell you that I’ve called Representative Beutler’s office and the person on the phone realized I wasn’t a “cookie cutter” republican and they hung up the phone on me – without letting me finish my point.  So, I send the emails in the hope that if there are enough emails sent, maybe she’ll listen to reason and find the courage to stand up to whoever is pulling the strings for her party.   The recent budget “compromise” (that President Obama is encouraging congress to pass) doesn’t make cuts to Social Security and Medicare (a bottom line issue for most “progressives”) but it leaves this issue out and, additionally, prevents additional taxes on corporations and the wealthy (at least as I understand it – which, evidently, is the only way to have any chance for republican support) So the bottom line is, How can we, as Americans, support a party that is focused on tax cuts for the wealthy but opposes unemployment benefits for workers?  I really don’t understand how people can vote for them (republicans).