Dear Congressman Kucinich,
I like you. When you speak you are most often well informed, principled, genuine, and right. I’ve seen you on television and find you quite entertaining and likable. I understand your position on health care reform. Your arguments are based on quality analysis and, in my opinion, true compassion for people. I might even agree with your conclusion were it not for some realities I will now list:
Update: In light of the recent revelation that you will in fact vote for the bill, I would like to thank you, and redirect this letter to those that may disagree with your new position or otherwise think this bill should be "killed."
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The United States political system is quite literally designed to intentionally temper and slow major changes.
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This congress could be the most friendly to progressive change we have or will see in decades.
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That reality notwithstanding, this bill, and any fix to it, would likely represent the most effective bill that could pass in the current political climate.
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With all due respect to your argument, this bill, with its many flaws, has to be considered a better way forward than no reform at all.
This process has been like pushing a very large heavy boulder up a hill. We are half way up that hill and our arms are tired. I propose we stuff a big wedge under the rock and rest. You seem to feel that if we are unable to get that massive stone to the top of the hill then we should just let it go. This would ignore the potential catastrophe that would occur at the bottom of the slope, and the anger that would be legitimately directed at you and your political allies for allowing such a calamity.
I implore you, sir, to continue your fight for your principles. I agree with most of them. I even despise the watered down or completely unjust elements of this bill as you do. I want you to continue your outspoken crusade to improve our health care system. I see this bill, should it pass, as an accomplishment in the sense that it is breaking the static friction of health care reform. You, I , or anyone else may be rightly cynical that further improvements won’t be made, but to me, that is only an indicator of just how difficult this process is, and that if we hold out for everything you and I want in a health care reform bill, we may be dead before we ever see it become law. Let’s get this sled moving so we can have some kind of vehicle to work with.
I will freely admit to you Denis (I hope it’s okay that I call you Dennis) that there are many on your side for this one, and they may call me some ugly names for sending you this letter. I hope that, at the very least, those people can see that I, and those like me, are fighting on the same side, and can keep our disagreements in the realm of substance. If you, or anyone else for that matter, can improve upon this bill before it passes, I wholeheartedly support that action. If, however, we manage to let the baby be thrown out because of the bathwater, I will be upset at those who believed in the right things, but did not act within the context of reality. Reality is indeed a pain in the rear sometimes, but those who hate it should not direct their rage at those who point it out, but rather those who willingly make it so. I suggest we work within reality, and at the same time try to improve it from within. I believe you can do that Mr. Kucinich, but we must first create a favorable field of battle, lest our progressive victories become few, infrequent, costly, and small. Fight for what’s right, sir, and do not let those who stand against all you believe in have this victory.
Sincerely,
XNeeOhCon