Dear Mr. or Ms. Politician,
I hope this finds you well. I have a serious matter to discuss with you and your colleagues. Too many of you are more enamored with saying things that get you on your pseudo-news source of choice that evening. Too many are also more consumed with not offending voters who are beholden to that pseudo-news source, even when the source admits it is gaslighting its viewers. Then, there are those politicians who are enthralled with bogus conspiracy theorist sources, which are a heightened level of disinformation especially when they begin with the letter after “P” or are led by a red-faced blowhard who owes so much money to people he defamed, he had to declare bankruptcy.
Let me be frank. We Americans need our politicians to have a seriousness of purpose. We need them to worry more about doing their jobs and less about keeping their jobs. We need them to represent all of us citizens and not just their party. And, they especially should not cater to the more extreme portions of that party who are less interested in the truth and more about winning some zero-sum contest.
So, if you cannot do these things, please alter your practice or resign. We have serious problems that need serious-minded politicians. If you want to speak of values which too many in your party do not adhere to or which you believe apply to every American, stop. Those discussions are meant as a diversion as you don’t want to talk about the hard issues.
As an example, you cannot tout law and order and blatantly support traitors to the United States who endangered people, denigrated our Constitution and have further divided us. Our enemies can only smile at this dysfunctional course of action.
We need you to do the job you are supposed to. It is hard enough when you are serious about it, but nigh impossible when you spew inanities or lies.
Thank you for your time.
A very concerned citizen
musingsofanoldfart
Independent views from someone who offers some historical context
musingsofanoldfart 
Note to Readers: An important quote is noted by American hero Cassidy Hutchinson in her book “Enough,” about her testimony in front of the House Select Commission on the January 6 insurrection which called the former president and his co-conspirators on the carpet about their role in enabling the insurrection and doing nothing to stop it:
“Trump continues to hurl insults in my direction. I learn how it feels to be on the other side. But I know enough not to react. That is what he wants me to do. He wants me to be defensive. He wants to know when he’s hurt someone or gotten a rise out of them; he wants to project his hurt into the source of it. Trump does not care if you dispute him or call him a liar. Only silence bothers him. Being ignored drives him mad.”
Maybe ignoring politicians who spew inanities and lies is the solution to minimizing their impact.
You are spot on. We need to do better and elect the right people to represent us. We are electing to many “yes-man” without any backbone. We need politicians that can assess an issue and make a decision based on the facts rather than what a minority of people want.
Edward, too true. Without naming names we are also electing people who have no business representing the interests of citizens because of being mean-spirited, overzealous, and/ or uninformed. Keith
Absolutely.
Well said, my friend. This letter would make a great “Letter to the Editor” in the newspapers! As you said that “our enemies can only smile”, it is also true that our friends/allies are looking upon us with horror, for what happens here affects them, too.
Jill, it is hard to be a beacon when you can’t find the replacement bulbs. Keith
Oooohhhh … good one, Keith!
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Hi Keith. Love the idea behind the letter. But do you really think these politicians will listen or do that? They get paid to do just what you demanded they don’t do. I have found that when someone’s paycheck depends on them not doing something, there is little to no way to convince them to do it. Hugs. Scottie
Scottie, well said. I must confess I do get some solace out of talking with staff of politicians, who cannot say this, but they know their bosses are either purposefully or being forced into doing the wrong thing. Reading Cassidy Hutchinson’s book “Enough,” she noted while she was a Republican intern, she did not agree with some positions her boss Rep. Steve Scalise and very few that her other boss Sen. Ted Cruz took. So, these staff know. Keith
Hi Keith. Yes and getting on the growing lists kept in these offices over what calls are for what is also a good thing. But again do you think the staff have much sway with the boss, especially when big money is involved in them supporting one thing or the other? I would love, and I really mean it would be grand, if people in elected office listened to the people. I just don’t see it happening. Money is speech the courts ruled, well the more money the louder the voice. The voice of the lower income majority of the public can not be heard over the bullhorns of the wealthy. Or so it seems. Hugs. Scottie
Scottie, your points are well taken. I think politicians go out of their way not to talk with people, unless you have contributed the right amount of digits left of the decimal point.
As for staff, if I can sway them a little bit or confirm their concerns, I think I am making progress. Keith
Note to Readers II: Before the Fox News era when News could be profitable by becoming more partisan, politicians would campaign on rhetoric and govern more off facts. Now, with 24×7 news, they govern off rhetoric. By the way rhetoric is a fancy term for BS.
Also, politicians used to be more diligent and did their homework. I am thinking of some pretty smart people – Rep. Jack Kemp, Sen. Bill Bradley, Sen. Paul Tsongas, Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Ted Kennedy, et al. Now, we have folks who are not top of mind when I identify learned politicians.
A matter of concern indeed. Another perspective just written by a talented French journalist, Franz-Olivier Giespert, comparing two French presidents. I’ve “omitted” the names: President M2 is the antithesis of President M1. M1 was basically an egocentric. He needed people to pay their respects all the time, he needed a court. President M2 is a Narcissist, he doesn’t need anybody, he is self-sufficient. He hates half the world, and is jealous of the other half. One of the many reasons he can’t delegate…
So, do we, the world over now have our choices reduced to an egocentric and a narcissist?
😉
Take care
Sounds like a choice between execution methods – shall we hang you or shoot you?
I wrote in my previous post regarding Cassidy Hutchinson’s book “Enough” about the former president. I used a quote from the book in comments to this blogpost which is telling.
Trump is a blend of the two people you mentioned. He needed the applause of pep rallies so much, he endangered his most loyal fans to COVID, which is beyond narcissism – it is sociopathic.
Along these same lines, he had the metal detection taken down at his January 6 pep rally knowing some folks were armed and encouraged to storm the Capitol. He even encouraged the hanging of his VP. Keith
Agree totally about the choice. The French saying goes: “C’est choisir entre la peste et le cholera”. I.e. You have to choose between catching plague or cholera.
Yes, “yours” is worse than ours… And a growing concern is what happens to Ukraine if he comes back in power. God forbid. 🤞🏻
Take care.
Agreed.
Keith: This is a serious question, and I don’t mean to offend. I know you are a Republican-turned-Democrat-now-Independent, but we have a two-party system, and the people whom you are addressing are found far, far more often among the Republicans. They are the ones who have just uniformly voted for a man to be speaker who may well belong in jail–and who defend their 91-count-indicted presumed candidate for president while condemning and threatening those who want to see him prosecuted for his numerous crimes. The Democrats are struggling mightily to do the people’s business despite the chaos.
I see a similar imbalance in the intelligence and intentions of elected officials who are Republicans vs those who are Democrats.
So my question is that if you are, as it appears, addressing the Republicans, can you in the interests of clarity and fairness say that? I appreciate your effort, but it seems to me that the times demand leaving no doubt about your words.
Annie, your point as always is well taken. A couple of comments. Just for clarity, I was a Democrat for five years, then Republican for twenty plus and an Independent for the last fifteen years.
You are right, the significant majority of the lying and gamesmanship is on the Republican side, but Democrats have a few as well. It is just not a normal distribution, with most of the troubles on the right. Another key difference is to garner Republican votes, the Big Lie of Donald Trump’s must be supported. The party is seriously adrift untethered to the truth to sell their soul to support such an illicit acting person.
On the Democrat side, Sen. Bob Menendez is likely guilty of fraud, although he has skated on a previous accusation. Then there is former Rep. Anthony Weiner, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and former Sen. Al Franken who all did stupid things regarding sexual misconduct. To be frank, they pale in comparison to what Donald Trump has done, but each messed up.
So, you are not incorrect. But, to get this important message heard, I needed to be more general than specific.
Keith
I’ll tell you why I feel so strongly about this. The difference in that “not a normal distribution” is huge enough to drive a democracy through. I fear your approach fuels voter apathy and the sense that “both” sides are evil and corrupt. So people don’t vote—or they vote for poorly qualified third party candidates who have no chance of winning. Result: Donald Trump and more big liars who are contemptuous of all the good that government can do—and is doing, under the Biden administration. This is a critical time for our democracy; I know you fully appreciate that.
I’ve no intention to defend bad behavior by Democrats. However, I do distinguish between private sexual failings that end Democrats’ careers but no longer end Republicans’—and serious violations of the public trust that Sen Menendez is accused of. He should resign immediately. Full stop.
Annie, I fully understand your point. Yet, to get the messages heard in other situations, I have felt the need to be more general. I have had some success in other venues creating dialogue. I need to get the dialogue first before fill in more.
Please note I did make comment about the traitors, which is a clear reference to the former president. Keith
I know you are an honorable man trying to do what you think is best. I respect that—a lot.
I think it’s worth noting something you may wish to put forth in your attempts at dialogue elsewhere. When the charges against Sen Menendez were announced, a number of his Senate Democratic colleagues urged him to resign, as did the Democratic governor of his state. But no Republicans did so, apparently because of the lawlessness of their front runner. Nor could the House Republicans vote to expel George Santos.
Annie, you hit upon a key difference in how Democrats have spoken out for colleague to resign. On the flip side, with Santos, Gaetz, Trump, et al, condemnation should have be stronger. Dems ousted Sen. Al Franken for doing something sophomorish and stupid. The only major blip is they could have hit Bill Clinton with more criticism for his womanizing. Keith
PS – Annie, just this morning the Republican Party confirmed that lying is a value. Here are two paragraphs from The Guardian that say why:
“A vote to expel Republican lawmaker George Santos from the US House of Representatives failed on Wednesday when fewer than two-thirds of the chamber supported the resolution, preserving Republicans’ narrow 221-212 majority.
Santos on Friday pleaded not guilty to a 23-count federal indictment accusing him of crimes including laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses, illegally receiving unemployment benefits and charging donors’ credit cards without their consent.“
Looking in from outside the USA, there is no more democracy there. There is only farce. Almost half of Americans are voting for people hellbent on destroying your nation. In my mind your letter is directed at the wrong target. You need to talk to average everyday Americans and find out why they want to see your nation disintigrate into a whatever it is they want it to become.
The so-called politicians being proffered by the GOP are certainly part of the problem, but they are just a symptom of a much bigger cancer.
A whole segment of your population is dissatisfied with the way your government works, or rather does not work. GOP candidates would not be elected if the country as a whole was working together. That Republicans are being elected in such large numbers is a result of Americans voting for them. THAT IS WHERE YOUR MAIN PROBLEM EXISTS! That is where you need to direct your main efforts!
This is how the world sees America. We may be laughing, but it is nervously, because what can happen to you can happen to all of us too!
I don’t know where your blog thinks I am. It says I posted at 5:29 PM. Man, it’s only 1131 AM where I live. 6 hours puts me in the Atlantic Ocean. 🐬
I think it is Greenwich time.
One of the strategies for many years now is for the Republican Party to debase all institutions – the press, the deep state, the government, legislatures, etc. If they are doubted, then nothing is true and anarchy can exist with the most powerful dictating. All of this relates to this group not liking future demographics where whites are no longer the majority. This a key reason for an affinity by some for autocrats.
As dystopian as this sounds, I have read and heard this from a former Republican strategist who said the 2018 mid-term was of vital importance to protect our Democracy. As you know, Democracy requires an informed public and we Americans are a very uninformed lot. Keith
Inform them! You know the politicians won’t.