If You're Not Outraged, You're Probably a Democrat

Driving in traffic I saw a sign of our times. It was in the form a bumper sticker, actually two of them. One said “Obama ‘08,” the other one said, “If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention.” Hmm. So the only acceptable political outrage it would seem is liberal outrage. The kind that voted for hope and change. The license plate cover was “Loyola Marymount University Alumni” so perhaps the message was that only “Educated,” outrage is acceptable. He’s probably forwarding this to the thought police even now.

I am working six days a week, so I don’t get to go to a town hall meeting. I sent my Congressman, and Senators an email expressing my outrage about the proposed health care reform. Congressman Thompson was kind enough to send me a polite form letter in reply which basically said, “We are going to do it anyway but thanks for your in put.” At the bottom of the email it said, “Do not reply to this email.” Typical politician. In all fairness it did say that I could email him again with any concerns and he will probably send me another form letter that says, “Can’t you read, I said we are doing it with or with out your concern.”

I’m not edumacated, I know what I know if you know what I mean. I know that I grew up with tribal dental care. Yes, I’m Native American. It used to be that the health clinic did what they call quadrant dentistry. If you went in you got a cleaning, and one quadrant of your dental concerns dealt with in one visit. Say upper left quadrant, two fillings. Lower left, prep for a crown, etc. Now they are subsidized by the state. They get this subsidy based on “Visits.” So cleaning is one visit. Prep for crown. Filling. Crown. Filling. Check up. This has done wonders for the quality and availability of care. If you are unemployed and can call three times a day you can get an appointment in about three months. If you are working, they’ll see you if you are in excruciating pain, maybe.

I’m glad there are other dentists in the area that allow you to pay for your own dental care, they will see you as soon as humanly possible and do as much as they can to make sure that you keep coming back to see them. I may have to pay for my own dental care, what a concept, but personally I’m opposed to being in excruciating pain.

It’s probably good that I can’t attend town hall meeting, it would be infuriating if I got ignored in person instead of via email. One could be tempted to yell a bit, try to get their attention, then the secret service would be investigating me, the President would be keeping a file on me, hey, they may even search my medical records to see what health care I don’t need. Wait, they are already planning to do that any way, so I guess the only recourse I have is to vent a little of my pent up, “Outrage.” Thanks for indulging me, it was very therapeutic.

President Obama,

Feb. 13, 2009

President Obama,

I am one of those people whom you wish to help with this stimulus package. I have a wife and three children, I made quite a bit less last year than in 2007. Tough times. Economic hardships are a very personal and poignant reality. This is no one else’s fault but my own, I claim my mistakes.

This new tone that you have brought to Washington leaves me just a little puzzled. A few years ago our nation rushed to war after only six months and two congressional affirmations of the President’s policy. That was clearly a bi-partisan issue. The fiscal policies of the last two decades are as bi-partisan as can possibly be. However the present circumstance is the result of eight years of President Bush’s failed economic policy.

Dissent IS Patriotic. I recall that being quite the rally point on the left in 2003 and all through out the war in Iraq. Now however the situation is so dire that no opposition can be brooked, any debate is delay and the cost of inaction is to terrible to contemplate.

Why can’t we wait six days to pass this package? Not six months, not six days. Because you know that this is not the change that the American People want. If you were confident in our support for this very important legislation you wouldn’t be opposed to giving us six days to look it over.

Not only are you quick to judge us incapable of comprehending the pressing necessity and brilliance of your stimulus package but there are calls for opposing voices to be silenced, with the fairness doctrine. Your policies will have to stand up to public critique sooner or later, unless you plan on censoring other forms of media as well.

“Buy American,” wasn’t so popular with our European Allies. That was quickly pulled from this legislation, when did their opinion become so much more important than the 46% of Americans who voted for the other guy. If 46% is too small a percentage for you to listen to, how about the nearly 60% of Americans who have serious misgivings about this legislation?

Six days, is that too much to ask?

Respectfully,

Nathan A. Steeves