I have been writing to my Congressional Representatives more often than I used to. I recommend it. They need to hear from us.
I created an email group in my email program with the email addresses of my 2 Senators, one Representative, and the majority leader Tom Daschle. You can find your Congressional Representatives email addresses by going to Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet.
Here are the letters I've sent over the past few months.
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6/17/02
President Bush and Vice President Cheney are setting the stage for a preemptive strike on Iraq, against the advice of key military leaders and the State Department. Without support from our allies, without a clear end game, and with tensions running high around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, events in the region could easily spin out of control. Why isn't Bush listening to the people in his administration who have real military experience and depth in international affairs, like his Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Colin Powell? According to the top military officials, an offensive in Iraq could endanger the lives of at least 200,000 American servicemen in bloody ground combat, and might prompt Saddam Hussein to use biological and chemical weapons to strengthen his hand. This must not be allowed to happen.
Hearkening back to the movie "Wag the Dog," Bush is doing this in part to cover up his illegal placement into office, and all of the billions of dollars worth of favors he is doing for big business, especially big oil, by conducting these wars and rolling back environmental regulations. Our planet can only take so much abuse before it will become unable to support life as we know it. We are moving in that direction at an ever increasing pace. How is it that Bush values money over life? How can anyone?
It is so important that we do
what we can to preserve and build on what's left of American democracy
by impeaching Bush with full out investigations into his conduct
and that of his administration.
--------------------- 4/19/02
I write to you all a lot with suggestions and sometimes criticisms. I just wanted to say that I appreciate how much Senators Leahy and Jeffords are doing in the Senate to try to restore sanity to the legislative agenda. Senator Daschle, you're doing OK but I think you could be more outspoken as Majority Leader (and Presidential hopeful). Representative Sanders, you have a tough time making an impact in the House but I know you make an effort. Keep talking loudly.
Have any of you guys read Michael Moore's latest book "Stupid White Men"? I am not one to tout a best seller, but this one has my endorsement on it's merits. Read it. It's not a long read, and you are aware of some of the information in it, but it's worth cogitating on as a whole. This book is a runaway hit. It's in it's 9th printing since September! That must tell you something. While it's true that most Americans do not read (more's the pity) this is still an indicator of the sentiments of the public.
We may actually stand a chance
of preventing the destruction the Bush team and handlers have
in mind if we are willing to speak out continually. It appears
that the tide may be turning some. It's also important that we
not be too compromising. The practice of attaching repugnant amendments
and legislators compromising so they can get their agenda passed
along with the dirty amendment, is politics at it's lowest. If
more legislators were unwilling to compromise, to make these kinds
of deals, then integrity might actually be restored. Something
to think about.
--------------------- 4/19/02
I just wanted to let you know that I oppose weaponizing space. There are good reasons NOT to do this. Safety. Expense. Safety.
There is no way to guarantee the safety of weapons in space. There is a high liklihood that weaponizing space would accelerate an arms race to unprecedented lengths. We cannot afford to waste resources on this.
Please do all you can to oppose weaponizing space. Vote against appropriations which would put weapons in space. Question the logic and ideology involved. Ask for high level studies on the economic and ecological impact of weaponizing space.
Thank you.
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4/18/02
Kudos on saying NO to drilling in ANWR. Well done. Stick by that please.
The Bush tax cut is a total scam which benefits the rich at the expense of the workers. Please do not vote to make it permanent. In fact, get rid of it and create legislation that requires those who have more to give more...much more. The economy is always bad for the people at the bottom, and the people at the top just see slower profitmaking, not huge losses overall. Please restructure the tax code to require the wealthiest individuals AND CORPORATIONS to pay their fair share.
From today's AP wire:
"Included in the bill passed Thursday were several taxpayer rights and protections, one of which would give people who file electronic tax returns an extra 15 days past the April 15 deadline to file income tax returns. "
Huh?? Electronic tax returns take LESS time to file. This is assbackwards. Who comes up with this stuff??
Keep bucking the Bush agenda. He's an idiot and his handlers are mean greedy men.
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4/16/02
Please oppose opening ANWR up for oil/natural gas drilling. This is a boondoggle to allow the oil industry free reign. ANWR should be preserved. It would not provide much oil anyway, and not for many years. What we need to be doing is exploring renewable energy sources.
This is the kind of thing that will affect my vote.
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4/14/02
I was struck by this paragraph in Friday's Post:
"[Ari] Fleischer said the Chavez government tried to suppress peaceful demonstrations, ordered its supporters to fire on unarmed protesters and blocked media broadcasts of the events. After the military and police refused to fight further, Chavez dismissed his vice president and cabinet."
The whole story can be found at <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41210-2002Apr12.html>
There will be tens of thousands protesters, perhaps more, in Washington next weekend. Let us hold the Bush administration accountable if they try to suppress peaceful protests here at home. Let us also hold them accountable if police initiate violence, as they did in Seattle, Quebec City, and Genoa. I was in Quebec City so I know whereof I speak when I say that the police initiated the violence there last March.
For the Bush people to say that Chavez of Venezuela was ousted by popular demand when the Venezuelan people and military overwhelmingly rejected the coup to oust Chavez, is the height of hypocrisy and lies.
Bush is the one who should be ousted; he wasn't even elected! We all know that a corrupt Supreme Court installed him. Frankly I am still pissed at the Democrats for not exposing this sham.
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4/13/02
It is of utmost importance that we NOT recognize the military dictatorship which has taken Venezuela in a coup. The democratically elected President has been removed from office, brutalized, and forced to resign. If the United States stands for Democracy then we should not be recognizing this fascist new government.
Now, we know that Bush and his handlers wanted this to happen, and that they are already seeking to define lines of control of the new Venezuelan junta.
You are in a position to call for our government to honor democracy. The strategy there is to force Bush to show what he really is when he publicly doesn't back the legitimately elected leader, since he is not legitimately in office himself.
Use this opportunity.
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4/11/02
Here are some more of my views which I would like you to consider as you legislate.
I am opposed to the Yucca Mtn. nuclear waste dump. It is a bad idea to transport all that nuclear waste. I know that Sen. Leahy voted for the so-called "mobile Chernobyl" bill a few tyears back and I was disappointed by that vote.
We should not be escalating our involvement in Columbia. This is just another move to protect an oil pipeline by assisting a right-wing brutal government in their oppression of the citizens of the country. Didn't we already do this under Reagan and see that it was a bad road to go down?
I have to say, Sen. Leahy, your committee really did the country a disservice by allowing Aschcroft to be confirmed. He is blatantly racist and has no regard for the Bill of Rights. The dismantling of Lawyer/Client privilege has begun. These are not good things. Is it possible to recall Ashcroft?
Basically, as we approach the elections, you all have a fine line to walk, but you can use the fact that the public is becoming more suspicious of Bush. The whole Enron debacle offers oppotunities. Make the connection between Enron and the Bush Energy Plan and you will see some kickbacks or some inappropriate connections, I'd bet on that. How about pursuing that? That's a whole lot juicier than Whitewater was. What is Cheney hiding anyway?
I guess what I am saying is, time to take off the gloves and help the public to see what is really going on in this country. They're ready, but you guys have to take the lead.
P.S. Please support Rep. Sanders in his proposals to keep the media from further consolidation. It is imperative that there be a diversity of voices in the media. The airwaves are, ostensibly, in the public domain. It is in the best interests of the public that there be a variety of voices and that the airwaves not be controlled by a few.
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4/7/02
Please reign Bush in. He is violating the separation of powers by going off in this militaristic fashion. We are not "at war" as he would have us believe. He is creating and escalating war. It is completely illegal for us to attack Iraq.
There should be a movement in Congress to force Bush to come to Congress with his plans and seek approval. Please raise your voices. The more we do this the more likely we are to turn the direction of this puppet fascist before he and his handlers run completely amok. The stakes are very high. Nothing less than the fate of humanity is at stake.
There are more and more demonstrations and protests across the country, and around the world, against what Bush is doing. The momentum is building. Help us.
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4/6/02
WOW! Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is on the board of directors of ABB, and they are delivering systems and equipment to help "axis of evil" member North Korea develop nuclear power plants!
Taken from ABB's site:
This is about the development of Nuclear Plants:
Now, check out their board of director list:
This sure looks problematic. I hope you'll look into it.
--------------------- 4/4/02
Please please don't make any deals to give Bush fast track. He is so clearly not to be trusted with anything that important. It is crucial that Congress oversee the trade deals this man attempts. His motives are to line the pockets of and consolidate power for his corporate masters. He doesn't care about the environment...the world we depend on for life. He doesn't care about the poor, the oppressed, the weak.
Please take the bold step of steering the Senate away from approving this.
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3/18/02
I just wanted to let you know that I oppose the Yucca Mtn. nuclear waste dump. It is a bad idea to transport this stuff. There is no great way to handle it, as we know, but when you bring together quantities of unstable material you risk greater catastrophe. We need to stop generating nuclear waste and come up with a different solution.
I just wanted to reiterate that I strongly emphatically oppose fast track for Bush. I do not believe he has the best interests of anyone but his own klan.
Thanks...
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3/15/02
Senator Leahy:
Way to go on Judge Pickering! He is unfit for the federal bench, and the hypocrisy of the Republicans on the issue of judicial nominations is amazing. They prevented most of Clinton's nominees from even having hearings and they are on your case for stopping a racist from being seated on the federal bench. I support you on this.
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3/15/02
I am expressing my opposition to the provision in the Senate Bill S.1961 that requires communities to consider privatization to receive federal funding. This is yet another move by the Bush administration to line the pockets of industry at the expense of the well being of the people.
Please oppose this. Thank you.
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3/8/02
I want to let you know some of my thoughts about the Columbia situation.
I have seen material on leftist listservs where the FARC are denying killing the Senator, saying that the government did it to pin on them. I'm sure you can avail yourself of better intelligence than I can on this matter.
This is, once again, about oil; the pipleline in Columbia.
The reality is we have to start moving away from oil, and we are able to do so. The only reason it isn't happening is that the government is so deeply into the pockets of the oil industry. It is unconscionable to keep this up because the guys calling the shots don't value life, they value money, and they are in positions that allow them to send thousands to their deaths. This is truly madness.
We should not be involved in the internal affairs of Columbia. The "war on drugs" is a joke and the whole world knows it.
Our government is not going in a healthy direction. Please let's make choices that support nonviolence, noninterference, and that are not motivated by corporate interests. How about always making the choice that honors the people, not the dollars?
Thanks for reading my rant.
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3/2/02
The Bush administration has activated a so-called shadow government operating in secret, a relic from the cold war. I feel it is of great importance that the shadow government be brought out of the shadows. This is an excuse for more secrecy on the part of the Bush administration,and is really about concealing from the American people and from the Congress what is really going on in terms of corporate and military expansionism by the Bush administration. Please investigate aggressively!!
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3/2/02
It is imperative that you publicly hold the Bush administration responsible for the escalation of violence in the Middle East. The Bush/Sharon alliance threatens to escalate the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq, Israel and what should be Palestine.
I am of Jewish descent, and I oppose Israel's expansionist policies.
Take the risk. Speak out!
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3/1/02
Senator Daschle:
I support you in questioning the Bush administration's direction and methods. In fact I support you in doing everything you can to expose their corruption and their fascist agenda. That is not just hyperbole. It is clear that the Bush administration is locking down the country and seeks to lock down the world into an omnipotent military/industrial oligarchy. Do whatever you can. Keep speaking out. Name what's going on. People will back you if you step up. The American people are asleep but you can help awaken them up by speaking out!
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2/16/02
The buzz out of Washington is that Bush and his cronies are planning to attack Iraq by the end of the year. No matter how much we may dislike Saddam Hussein it is unacceptable and ILLEGAL for us to start war against another country. As we condemn attacks against us, so we must NOT initiate attacks against others.
The fact that this is, of course, about oil, in which Baron Bush is completely immersed, makes this course of action even more despicable. Bush is willing to, again, kill innocent civilians to line the purses of himself and his oil baron buddies.
I EXPECT my representatives in Congress to take a stand on this now. The rhetoric is heating up, so this is no 11th hour situation that requires immediate presidential action. This MUST go before Congress for authorization, and if it isn't brought before Congress then Congress must address the rhetoric coming out of the Bush machine. That is how our government is supposed to function. Sidestepping and downright breaching the laws of the land regarding the power of the Executive branch must be stopped. Bush is truly a fascist, educated in the ideology of Hitler who his grandfather knew and supported both financially and politically. It is just plain foolosh to ignore facts like that. The house Bush grew up in included, however subtly, fascist ideology. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
No more war. No more corporate owned government!
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2/12/02
Please do not support the Daschle energy plan. Between Bush and Daschle one could think that the only possible energy plans must involve oil and nuclear power, when in fact there are viable alternatives. The technology exists to provide our energy needs with methods which are environmentally friendly and which would create jobs for Americans. It is time for us to purposfully steer ourselves away from dependence on oil, and of course more nuclear power is just a bad idea, no ifs ands or buts.
The only way things change is if people acknowledge the possibility of c hange. You are all in leadership positions. You can support alternative energy and contribute to a change in the national energy policy that will help to keep the earth liveable. Please have the courage to stand up for renewable energy.
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2/11/02
Bernie, please vote FOR Sahys-Meehan and AGAINST Ney when the bills come up for vote.
Time to ban that soft money even though I know it's very tempting for politicians.
This military buildup, which benefits defense contractors and perpetuates the US as a murdurous world power aiming for world tyrant MUST STOP.
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2/4/02
Please do NOT support repealing the Estate Tax. This is just another loophole to keep money flowing up to the richest people while the poor get less and less. Please support economic justice by requiring the wealthiest among us to be responsible with the resources they hold in trust. Those who have more should give more.
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2/2/02
I have a few items for you tonight.
First check this out <http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=128401&group=webcast>
Next...I want you to know that the protests occuring in Brazil and in New York have my full support. The media likes to portray all activists as threatening, and certainly the Bush administration wants to discredit any dissidents, but the people that I know in NYC this weekend are people who have committed their lives to peace and justice. I don't think Mr. Bush, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Cheney or Mr. Rumsfeld can say the same.
The Bush government is carrying forward, accellorating and expanding the corporatization of the planet. This is occuring at the expense of the lives of the people. I know that you know this is going on.
Take some inspiration from the 20 people who were in the cold on Church Street today, and speak out about what's going on! Please. People of conscience, and especially people living with privilege and power, have an obligation to speak out, otherwise we are complicit in the power grab exploitation that is going on.
If you speak out with the truth you will gain political capital. People may have a hard time hearing what you say, and you may need to be gradual in the severity of your statements, but it is imperative that you speak out now before it's too late!
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2/1/02
I have heard that Tom Daschle in a meeting with Mr. Bush in which he was asked by Bush to cooperate with, or was told in some form to go along with, restricting the investigations of the events of 9/11/01 to the effect that only the White House and the DoJ would conduct investigations, and Congress would not.
Can you find out what is and what is not true about this? Thank you.
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1/25/02
In reference to H. R. 3598 which would institute a military draft. Please do all that you can to defeat this bill.
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1/23/02
I am aware that there is a constitutional ammendment currently in Congress which would ban gay marriage. I am strongly OPPOSED to this and I hope you will do all you can to help defeat this legislation.
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1/10/02
Bush now wants to detonate nuclear weapons on our planet to test them?? We know they work. This is insanity! He can't even pronounce NUCLEAR properly!! Please please please do something about this!
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12/11/01
President Bush's nomination of Otto Reich for Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere must be unequivocally rejected by the Senate. Otto Reich has a long, reprehensible record of underhanded political deals, disregard for human rights, support for totalitarian regimes in Latin America, and lobbying for the narrow interests of major corporations. He was deeply involved in clandestine support of the Contras in Nicaragua, in violation of Congressional requirements. He is a thoroughly divisive member of the rabid right-wing Cuban-American community who is distrusted by most Latin American governments and policymakers. His appointment would send a chilling and negative message throughout Latin America. I urge you to speak out firmly in opposition to the Reich appointment.
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11/30/01
Please do what you can to stop the Bush Energy Plan. It is a boondoggle for the oil and nuclear power industries at the expense of the environment and the people. It is being added to a railroad bill, as I understand it, in an attempt to sneak it through the Senate. Please don't let this happen. This bill would be very destructive.