OK, It's one of those days when I just can't take it anymore. I'm sending another letter to my congressman. Will it do any good?
Dear Representative Welch,
I am having trouble maintaining my cool as I sit here at work. I don't know what else to do, so I am writing you a letter. I am an electrical engineer in the semiconductor industry, I have lived in Vermont for 8 years, and I wholeheartedly supported your candidacy to represent me in Congress. However, right now I hold intense rage at the inaction and capitulation of Congress to the unprecedented power grab of the Bush Administration. And therefore, I am passionately angry at you. At this moment I (and many of my fellow Vermonters) are wondering how we can possibly communicate our rage and fear to you, because it seems that you just do not listen to your constituents. And in the absence of your hearing and acting on our behalf, my core being, my creativity, money, and energy will be directed to doing all I can to replace you with someone with courage and conviction to preserve our system of government.
Representative Welch, it seems that you are content now to be a part of the Congressional Club there in Washington. Congratulations on your membership on the Rules Committee, and your seeming acceptance by the Democratic leadership. Well, We the People of Vermont did not elect you so you could pad your resume and move up the legislative ladder. We elected you to be our voice, and to uphold your oath of office, which is to the Constitution of the United States, for heaven's sake! Do you not see how our the very core of our democracy is being subverted, killed? This is the crux, RIGHT NOW, when our Democracy must be protected from an existential threat, the most grave threat in its history. The time is now to defend it, not after Democrats have won the presidency in 2008. Have you not read in the Constitution how it is your obligation, your duty, to pursue impeachment of the President and Vice President if they have grossly violated the law? There are so many offenses that it boggles the mind. How can you sit there making silly rules in your Rules Committee when the executive branch defenestrates the entire body? They refuse to even appear for a subpoena! They defy your laws with impunity with their signing statements. Where is the pride of the body of Congress? I am so angry I cannot even concentrate at work, and I fume constantly at you. Can you not feel and hear the desires of the people? Where is your pride, your courage, your heart? You have been elected at this momentous time to counter astounding abuses, and yet you act as if it is business as usual.
What will you do when our Executive Branch attacks Iran? They are telling the same lies, putting us on the same course for another war because you in Congress have not given them any consequences for their criminal lies about Iraq. Don't wait -- Do Something Now. Where are the investigations of their lies, their crimes? We the People insist you hold them accountable! It will be swept under the proverbial rug if you do not act now. Be a leader, have some courage, for Christ's sake! Convince the leadership to take action. We are angry and we want something done.
Impeachment starts with investigation, an accounting of the wrongs done to the country by the Bush Administration. Right now they do not even give you the documents; for example, their latest strategy document for Iraq. Do you not feel that Congress is a co-equal branch of government? Do you not see that our democracy is being extinguished? The President now has the power to detain any of us an an 'enemy combatant,' disappear us, and torture us. Does this not even bother you? They are spying on all our electronic communications, and Congress is proposing granting amnesty to the telecommunications companies – those lawsuits are our only chance to find out how the FISA law has been broken. Damn it, the time is now for courage! We feel helpless because you sit there doing nothing evident to protect our Constitution, even though that is the oath you took. Read it again. Please, please give us some hope that you are not just a figurehead, that you will not act like a lowly clerk, keeping your head down as our entire democracy is dismantled. The people of Vermont are passionate about our rights! Protect them, and we will support you!
I don't know what else to say. It has been a year since you have been elected, and you are an immense disappointment. Who cares about the minimum wage when we are roaring towards a dictatorship? Defend the Constitution, now! Please!
Sincerely,
An Enraged American Citizen