Sen. Lee, I’m sending an open letter this time because whenever I write to you directly, your staff responds instantly with a boilerplate ramble that makes it absolutely clear that you have no interest in my input.
Your dishonesty and greed disgust me. How can any Republican claim that the courts are not a partisan branch of government? If they’re not, why did Sen. Mitch McConnell sit on 90 Obama judicial nominations for over three years? Why is the Senate leadership reversing its own 2016 rule about Supreme Court nominations during an election year? How stupid do you think we are?
I’m working for the election of a new president and an upgraded Senate in the hope that a majority government will swiftly correct the processes that have enabled the current version of minority rule: uncontrolled gerrymandering, misuse of the electoral college, abuse of Senate leadership power, career politicians divorced from real life (and happy to fund their premium medical and retirement plans with our money). Those tools have enabled a “ruling class” version of democracy for far too long.
And yes, whether you want to label it “democracy” or not, this government was designed to be of the people, by the people and for the people. When a ruling minority continuously ignores and exacerbates the economic realities of the majority, people get frustrated, scared and angry. Didn’t you learn in history class that the most dangerous enemy is the one with nothing left to lose? Have you bothered to understand what’s happening in the streets of America? And why don’t you know that your job is to hear and address the causes, rather than just throw everybody in jail when their frustration boils over?
JFK said it well: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Senator, please acknowledge the realities dividing our great country and get to work addressing them.
Hydee Clayton, Millcreek