Meta / Open Letter to Scott Rigell

Been busy. Exams are hitting back-to-back and term papers are starting to loom. Interactions with bureaucracy.

Sent a letter to Rep. Scott Rigell (R):

I recognize that our economy is pretty wrecked and, as such, unpleasant cuts are necessary. Though I hate to see the social programs on which so many people depend getting gutted, cuts to higher education assistance, and crippling of public broadcasting, I understand that there's no way around it.

There's a disconnect, though. I don't like seeing the economy exploited as erroneous justification for waging a social war against such relatively inexpensive programs that have historically (and often without good reason) been opposed by the GOP. If you and your peers would take a salary cut, put a freeze on future raises, and tax the upper middle and upper classes at reasonable rates, I could live with some of these proposed cuts. As it stands, the historically awful idea of giving the rich tax breaks, the idea that has preceded every economic downturn since taxes have been levied, is being continued. We could also make larger cuts to defense, without compromising the lives or livelihoods of those within the military, by limiting R&D into such wasteful projects as the flying Jeep (most of which never go anywhere), scaling back our occupation in such countries as Germany and Japan, and a freeze on pay raises for higher ranking individuals that, frankly, are making a very good living already.

The money freed up by the proposed cuts to Planned Parenthood and NPR, as two of many examples, is negligible without significant cuts elsewhere.

Put frankly, why should the many make such sacrifices if the few make none and, at least as often as not, prosper as a result of our sacrifices? Hell, double the tax people making over $2 million a year and they'll still be rich. Why are the poor the ones that always pay?

Hoping to get a response with more substance than "Thanks, we take the opinions of our constituents very seriously!", but I'm not holding my breath.

Not gone, just too busy / weary of the mainstream political discourse. Things will pick up when they do, and you all can resume the occasional reading / infrequent commenting.