Outraged American

[buckettgirl]

I am writing a letter to the editor of my local paper. I think ALL!! of you should do the same. I don't care what you say, just express outrage - but do it intelligently. Write something to make people think. You all speak (write) so well and intelligently in here. The problem is that for the most part WE in DU are all upset and outraged and agree about the generalities and how stupid people are for voting for *. Use those qualities and speak up for us, around the country, outside of DU.
I feel that I am only one person and I can't do much - but I can do this. I am certain that I can get at least 1 or 2 people to question their values and their motives, and that is better than sitting here doing nothing and whining about it.
I am sending this letter to the editor of my local paper:

I guess Americans don't want jobs. Or freedom. Or tolerance. I am absolutely flabbergasted. This country will fall apart thanks to the actions and ignorance of those who voted. I checked CNN.com and it showed in Ellis County that Bush won: 7,683 to 3,938; in percentages: 65% to 33%. I want to know why you didn't vote for John Kerry. I deserve to know why you didn’t vote for change. When I have my financial aid taken away because of Bush's policies, are you going to pay for me to finish college? When my husband gets drafted, can I point my finger and blame you? How about when my grandparents suffer because they can't afford to live or buy prescriptions, are you going to help them then? Or suppose my husband and I find out that we will have a baby with severe genetic birth defects that will leave it with no quality of life: after you have taken away my reproductive rights, will you be there to adopt it and to pay for the lifelong medical expenses?

What was it that you didn't understand? WAKE UP! The policies of the current administration greatly impact ordinary, everyday working class citizens: YOU!!! It hurts you and me and everyone we know.

How many trips have you had to cancel because you can't afford the current gas prices? I have. I have to car-pool to school because of gas prices.

What will you say when you or one of your children get drafted? Point the finger at yourself, you sent them. Don't fool yourself into thinking there won't be a draft. The current state of our armed forces and Bush's war doctrine demand a draft, in fact there probably should already be one.

How many of you can't stand it when a Jehovah's Witness comes to your door to talk about religion? If you don't like religion shoved down your throat, why would you do it to someone else? I am not Christian, but I am spiritual. I don't want Christian "values" imposed upon me because you say that's how it is. I want separation of church and state because no religion should rule a country. I also want religious freedom – for myself, and other religions, even Islam – because that is why America exists.

I’ve heard that many people around the country voted on morality. Did you vote for morality? I would like to know how that’s possible; and I am sure the innocent civilians in Iraq would like to know why you think genocide is moral. Can you explain to me how bigotry is moral too? Homosexuals are people like me and you. They deserve to be treated like Americans with American rights. Moral people do not stand for hypocrisy, discrimination, and intolerance. But you voted for this, too.

During the next four years; when you lose your job, when gas hits $3.00/gallon, when your child is sent to fight overseas, when you lose reproductive rights, when you can't buy prescriptions or afford a doctor’s visit, when minimum wage doesn't keep a roof over your head, when America is attacked again: DON'T BLAME ME; I voted for change. This is what you wanted; this is what you voted for. You could have helped yourself and others like us; saved jobs, financial aid, health care, stopped the war and brought our troops home, etc. Instead you chose to look the other way; to pretend that it isn't really that bad, to shove it under the rug so you don't have to look at it. Now you have only yourself to blame.
Amanda Mitchell
11/04/04
Plainville, KS

[classof56]

1. Well said, Amanda. Great letter that covers the gamut.

Hope it causes many to stop and think about what they have wrought. I suspect it won't be long until things become crystal clear and the breast-beating can begin as Bush supporters realize the full import of what he and his crowd are really about. Glad you are speaking out.

BTW--welcome to DU. Good to have you on our team!

[SemperEadem]

2. Needles, California--gas is already at $3/ga... they gouge because

they're the last outpost going in and coming out of the desert, so they screw motorists by forcing the higher prices on them.

[buckettgirl]

4. not that way here, yet

in the larger towns in kansas, gas is going around $1.90/gallon. In smaller towns it is running around $2.01/gallon. We don't experience the high prices like those in Cali and other well populated areas for long periods of time, but it does get here eventually. Also, there are not many high paying jobs here. In the small towns, like Plainville (pop approx. 2000) the best paying job is to be a nurse at the nursing home and make maybe $20000/year if you're lucky. In Hays (pop 25000), where I go to college, there are better paying jobs, but not really any high paying jobs. Only the doctors make even close to six figures. The cost of living is also high here (not like in big cities), people making minimum wage here can't even afford a small studio apartment (they run around $400/month and up). The really crappy thing is that when they build housing for college students (off campus) they want $450/month - and that is for one bedroom apartments for students who can't work full time. Its crazy and its only gonna get worse.

[ncbiker]

3. Excellent

Keep up the good fight :)