Friday, October 3, 2008

A Government Of The People, For The People, And By The People

Here's a letter I sent to my distinguished U.S. Senator from California:

Feel free to copy it and send it along to the other 99 tools in Washington....



Sen. Diane Feinstein October 2, 2008
331 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510


Senator Feinstein, how DARE you!

You’ve just been quoted as having said the following:

“I’ve received calls and e-mails from 91,000 Californians, and 85,000 of them were opposed to this measure. There’s a lot of confusion out there, people aren’t understanding this…”

The only people who take the time to actually call and e-mail you are the ones who do understand, confusion notwithstanding. I guarantee you that the people who truly don’t understand these economic events and circumstances, despite being the same people who have entrusted you with their representation, are in fact the ones who will not take the time, or have the impetus to contact you. And you, I am sure, are quite aware of this. They may feel powerless or lazy or both; nevertheless, it is your DUTY to represent them with clear and reasoned statesmanship. And for those that do take the initiative to contact you, you have an even greater duty to heed their wishes!

85,000 opposed, eh? And you still voted "yes".

So I ask again, HOW DARE YOU?!?

Your lack of leadership is the reason why you’ve only received 91,000 phone calls and e-mails, instead of 91 MILLION. But please do not waste any more time dithering words and insulting that first tenth of 1%. For if you do, then you are going to see a lot of people making it their personal mission in life to RUIN your career. From San Diego to Crescent City, and from Hollywood all the way up the northern Bible belt to Redding, you will be hearing a clamor such as has never been heard before in the Great State of California. Is that understood? Or is that too vague and confusing for a Senator?

Now if you are not happy about being unable to garner the co-operation from the Representatives of California in that lower little house of Congress, and thereby secure as much unnecessary pork as possible for all the lobbyists who you mistakenly believe assisted in getting you elected, then why don’t you just stop, and instead offer some leadership that will inspire confidence, not apathy, in our Republic? If you truly believe that 93.5% of constituents who contact you are “confused”, then why don’t you let us know that this tax-payer bailout, er,.. “rescue plan” will do the following things that are necessary and needed, and not institute statist initiatives that will forever tarnish the Constitution, and drain what’s left of our nation’s wealth?

Note the following DEMANDS.


DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA



1. Rescind the Community Reinvestment Act - this is a huge contributing factor to the FMAC and FNMA meltdown, brought on by pressure from all sides to increase the number of affordable (adjustable) home loans, while at the same time endeavoring to prop up the non-sustainable demand for the increased supply of the home construction industry.


2. Draft responsible trade legislation so that concrete and construction jobs are not the only available labor industry for thousands of people in any given region. And “green” jobs will not fill the void, either, so stop selling the fantasy.


3. Require that sound accounting principles for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae be instituted immediately. Ginny Mae, too. Or is Ginny something we should even be worried about? Please let us know.


4. Require that sound regulation/auditing processes be instituted immediately for Freddie and Fannie.


5. Institute a contemporary of the Glass-Steagall Act, so that Wall Street and Main Street are not keeping all their eggs in the same basket, and letting their eggs multiply like rabbits meant for dinner…


6. Allow ZERO campaign contributions to ANY political party from quasi-governmental entities, in order to avoid a conflict of interest. Prosecute such past dalliances.


7. Any and all possible net gains, or interest accrued from any government purchase of mortgage backed securities shall be used to retire debt. It SHALL NOT be used for funding NEW entitlement programs.


8. No earmarks in any “rescue” bill. Nothing for ACORN, LaRaza, or any other "nonprofit organizaiton." This also is not the time nor place for Energy legislation that would have been well debated if not for Nancy Pelosi turning off the cameras and turning out the lights. And no surprise tax cuts for Indian reservations, either. They have casinos, now.


9. The Secretary of the Treasury is not to be given unconstitutional powers, as this position is a political appointee who is not elected and accountable to the U.S. taxpayer beyond the current Administration. Period. End of story. (Thank you for not budging on this one, btw)


10. Exhibit leadership by demanding from the American People (yourselves included), more than just tax dollars. Demand that we work not just from the top down to solve this crisis, but also from the bottom up, so that we may meet in the middle. Let us know how we can save our money and accrue less debt, while still supporting business, and growth. Tell us what we can do, not what you keep failing to do.



If there is more understanding necessary from the citizens of the United States, then it is up to you to better inform the media, your colleagues, and yourself of the great and tumultuous issues facing our economy and our way of life. Admittedly, there are many who will not care to hear or be required to endure these hard truths. But it is nevertheless your DUTY to heed and respect the wishes of those you govern, regardless of state-wide comprehension. By disparaging the principles of Democracy for the convenience of appeasing the oligarchy, you tread a dangerous path, Senator.


Respectfully,




Jared E. Sneed
Citizen and Resident, California, U.S.A.