I flamed some poor aide at the senator's office yesterday, which I regret. I am writing today in hopes that the senator herself sees the message.
Any suggestions before I post?
Dear Sen. Landrieu:
NPR reported yesterday that you were joining Sen. Murkowski in objecting to raising the cap of liability for oil polluters from $75 million. Your reported reason: actually being liable for cleaning up after themselves would put mom-and-pop oil companies out of the offshore drilling game.
Senator, if someone can't pay for the consequences of their activities, they have no business engaging in those activities. If I can't afford car insurance,I don't get to drive. If I can't afford liability insurance, I can't get a business license.
Your excuse for maintaining the liability cap would be laughable, were it not for your long history of siding with petroleum interests over the needs of your constituents. The time has come for you to decide who you serve, the oil companies or the people of Louisiana.
Senator, it's time to decide for whom exactly you work. Concessions to the petroleum industry like liability caps and offshore expansion in climate legislation are a slap in the face to Louisianians who have now conceded everything to that industry, our land, our water, our food, our jobs and our health.
I have been an active, public supporter of yours. I am a rabidly partisan Democrat. This is, however, no longer an issue of loyalty or politics. This is about our survival as a state, a nation and a species. Enabling our addiction to petroleum is counter to that hope of survival.
Senator, it's time to decide: which side are you on, the people and the state or the oil companies?
Yours most sincerely,
[Crashing Vor]
PS I spoke yesterday with an aide in your New Orleans office on these matters, and hope I didn't singe her hair overmuch. I only hope that this communication is passed on to you, as it is your positions, not those of your hires, that are the source of your constituents' ire.
Per drewfromct's suggestion: Here is Sen. Landrieu's contact page, if you'd like to share your thoughts with her. I wouldn't cut and paste this message, as pols tend to ignore astrospam, but I'm sure you have some ideas.