Word count: 580

September 29, 2009

Open Letter to Senator Baucus

I agree with the young Billings family man with the congenital heart program.  Whose side are you on?

Who are you there to serve?

Who are you to declare that you are more important than I, and therefore deserve the hideous perks you’ve awarded yourselves for doing us the favor of becoming public servants? Have you forgotten that you started out by declaring your desire to be a public servant?  Was that a lie then, or just something that eroded with the temptations of pharmaceutical millions and health care millions, lobbyists with lollipops, jaunts, and cash?

How dare you offer to penalize those who don’t afford the options your bosses have so generously provided in their bill which you presented?  My social security check is 6.5% less every month because there is an automatic withdrawal for health insurance.  So, in spite of the garbage and rhetoric, I do have insurance and pay for it.  You remember social security?  It’s a Government run program.  Oh, that’s right; we must not have the government involved.  HUH?

We elected a majority of public servants to help the man we put in to do a monumental job of getting us out of the most hideous mess in United States history—a mess that has included the nation being perceived (and rightly so) as a nation of torturers—a mess that has included the Constitution on which this nation is founded being totally ignored—a mess that completely ignored the Geneva Convention—a mess where leaders have broken the laws and are not being held responsible—a mess where a man inherited an almost bankrupt nation financially, emotionally, and spiritually—a mess that has allowed violence and vitriol to be trumpeted throughout the air waves, espousing such hatred that one prays constantly for the safety of those threatened by the leaders of the right-wing party: Limbaugh, Beck, Palin, et al.. 

When did honesty, honor, and integrity take a vacation?  You stood behind President Bush, to his right, and smiled a self-satisfied smile, as he signed a bill custom tailored for the pharmaceutical industry so that, without having to negotiate prices with us (the people), they promptly raised all the prices.  Then, they proudly shout from the skies how wonderful they are to have a charity bus to help people who cannot afford prescription drugs. 

Wait a minute.  They set the prices for prescription drugs without fear of reprimand, then they boast of their generosity as they help those who cannot afford the prices they set, and then they glean all that approval and public acknowledgement?????  Wouldn’t there be less of a problem if they made less of a gouging profit so that those people could afford the medicines? 

Do we need health care reform?  Oh, possibly not. 

Congressman Rehberg was recently in a boating accident, broke his ankle apparently, and went to hospital for a few days.  X-rays, tests, and all that goes with entering a hospital… Hmm.  How much debt do you think he incurred personally for all that care?  Now, you figure it, Max, how much debt would I be in with the same experience? Want to know the story of my broken wrist? Of course not.  I’m not an elected official. 

Patriotism or politics?  Dollars or democracy? Pharmaceutical profits or health care for a young Billings, Montana family man? 

You made your choice.  What a shame.

Eileen Kennedy

4632 Bailey Street

Missoula, MT 59808