An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 6

Dear Senator Gardner,

Today's missive is in regards to the President's most recent uninformed suggestion, i.e., the idea that the best thing to do for healthcare in this country is to repeal the Affordable Care Act immediately, and then sorting it all out at some undefined later date.

The stupidity of this idea is only surpassed by its callousness.

Let's look at some of the issues surrounding such a plan, shall we?

• It could cost more than 20 million Americans the coverage they've gained under the law and propel the individual insurance market into a spiral of increasingly higher premiums and insurer exits. But it's all good because you've repealed the black guy's signature legislation and that's what really matters, amirite?
• This law touches 5.8% of the economy. Is there a plan to address the economic repercussions, or is it more a fly by the seat of your pants kind of deal?
• Given that the far right is a-okay with throwing people off their health insurance willy-nilly, what assurances do we have that this TREMENDOUS new health care plan will be anything other than a shit show?

You people want the ACA to better serve your constituents (and by "constituents" I mean actual human beings who actually use health care, not "companies")? Then work within the existing structure to do right for PEOPLE. Not for companies, not for the egotist living in the White House. For us. The ones to whom you owe your duty.

Or better yet, join the civilized world in providing guaranteed basic health care in a single payer system. 

Signed,

Janiece

An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 5

Dear Senator Gardner,

Today's issue comes to you courtesy of your Denver office, where yesterday your representative had the Denver Police Department physically remove protestors from your office. The group was from ADAPT, a disability rights group, and shockingly enough, they don't believe you when your representative claimed,

“The organization currently in the office has spoken to Sen. Gardner several times and are in constant contact with his healthcare policy staff regarding requested reforms to our healthcare system,” Contres said. “Sen. Gardner wants the constituents that are in his office to have quality healthcare. He has concerns that our current system is imploding and won’t be able to provide quality care if nothing is done to fix it.”

Yeah. That's it. You're concerned about quality healthcare and how our current system is imploding. 

Never mind the fact that the system is "imploding" because 45 spitefully decided to withhold promised funds for the ACA. Never mind that the revocation of the Medicaid expansion (in which Colorado participated) will leave tens of thousands of Coloradans without minimal health care. Never mind the 74% increase in out of pocket costs the average American will have to deal with. Your reaction is all about your deep concern for your constituents. It couldn't possibly be about, for example, your proven track record of voting the way your Party tells you to vote and your status as a bought-and-paid-for politician of the rich.  I'm sure that has nothing to do with it AT ALL.

I don't know how you sleep at night with such hypocrisy boiling around in your brain.

Once again, please vote NO on Trumpcare. It's not right for America, and it's not right for Colorado. Grow a backbone and do what is right, not what is expedient.

Signed,

Janiece

An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 4

Dear Senator Gardner,

Me again. I know you're getting as sick of hearing from me as I am of writing to you, but as long as you continue to legislate in an immoral, unjust, and puppet-like manner, I'm obligated to continue my daily missives to your office. My hope is that you might grow a backbone, some ethics, or finally realize how very much people dislike and disapprove of the WealthCare Bill you and your fellow Republicans are attempting to foist off on the American public.

Today's objection comes from the Kaiser Family Foundation, one of the least biased sources of health care news in the country. They have no axe to grind, no political supporter to please, no master to answer to. And what they say is that the average increase Americans can expect in their health care premiums is 74%. 

I'm sure you and your richy-rich supporters can afford such an increase - hell, I can afford it - but you know who can't? The majority of your constituents, that's who. People like my mother, who, like most retirees, is on a fixed income. People like me when my children were small and I was living paycheck to paycheck, hoping no emergency came up for which I wasn't prepared. People like my adult son and the 51,600 Coloradans who get their coverage from the individual market and will lose their ability to pay under this execrable Bill.

Do you even care about these people? Or do you only care about your rich supporters and your Republican puppet-masters? Only 12% of Americans approve of this bill. Who, exactly, do you think you work for? This Bill, and your association with it, is earning the ire of almost every demographic group in the country. You're taking a big chance with your support of this piece of trash. Even if you can't be convinced to care about other people, perhaps the threat of losing your seat to someone who gives a crap about Coloradans will do the trick.

Signed,

Janiece

An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 3

Dear Senator Gardner,

I am writing to you today to tell you how very divorced from reality you appear to be when it comes to the social contract, the moral code that should guide us all as members of our society, and your role in leading this country forward instead of into a state of unserious "also-rans."

1. The Social Contract

"Social contract arguments typically posit that individuals have consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler or magistrate (or to the decision of a majority), in exchange for protection of their remaining rights. The question of the relation between natural and legal rights, therefore, is often an aspect of social contract theory."

Given this description, I think it should be fairly obvious that your constituents have engaged in a social contract with the government, and with their fellow citizens. Please pay close attention to the part where people agree to "the decision of the majority." The MAJORITY of people in this country want to keep the ACA. The MAJORITY of people in this country do not want 22 million people to be thrown off their health plans. The MAJORITY of people in this country don't want to see poor children or seniors being denied basic services based on their ability to pay. The MINORITY, i.e., CIS, white, Republican, so-called "Christian" males with obligations and ties to the rich do want this bill passed. Who do you represent in this instance? What are you obligations under the social contract? Because I think you are confused on this point. Hint: Your obligation is not to your Party or your campaign donators.

2. The Moral Code

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I hear again and again and again how Republicans consider the United States a "Christian country" (we're not), how our "exceptionalism" comes from God (it doesn't), and how we all have this invisible obligation to do it Jesus' way (we don't). But let's assume for a moment that all those things are true, or at least you believe that all those things are true.

Given these value statements, how can you possibly embrace a piece of legislation that condemns people to sickness and death when there's a perfectly acceptable alternative, just to accommodate the desire of the richest Americans to reduce their taxes?  We're talking about people's health, their lives, their ability to make a living and be contributing members of society. By your own actions, you're embracing these negative consequences for those who are the "least among us" in order to help the money changers at the Temple. Where I was raised, this is called "hypocrisy," and "lip service." Either live your values or shut the hell up about them.

3. Your Leadership Role

We live in a representative democracy. The Federalist Papers devote a great many words to what that means in the United States, and the responsibility of those elected officials who serve. Perhaps you're read about it as part of your legal training.

Given your role, and the responsibility that comes with that role, I would never encourage you to vote against your conscience. This is why members of Congress are elected - to examine issues and legislation and then do what they think is the best thing for our nation and for the constituency. My question is of another caliber entirely: How, exactly, do you morally justify creating and then voting for the Republican Health Care Bill? I don't want to hear about the economy, or your Republican masters, or your rich sponsors. I want to know EXACTLY what the moral justification is for forcing 22 million people off of their health insurance so that the rich can increase the divide between them and the rest of of us.

The answer to this question will tell the world everything they need to know about you as a human being and as a politician. Is this why you won't answer it?

Want to know why I think you won't answer? Because according to BallotPedia, you're a "rank and file Republican," i.e., someone who never goes against their party, regardless of the issue at hand. You vote the way your party masters tell you to vote, not out of any moral conviction. And because that's the case, you CAN'T morally justify your support of the Bill. The Bill is immoral and unjustifiable except in a "I can't wait to lick the boots of my Republican/Corporate Masters" kind of way, and no one wants to come right out and say THAT.

And that's why you're The Coward Cory Gardner. You wouldn't take a stand you weren't ordered to take if your life depended on it. And you won't now even though other people's lives depend on it.

Way to lead, Senator. Our forefathers must be so proud.

An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 2

Dear Senator Gardner,

I am writing today to ask you to once again reconsider your support of the Republican Health Care Bill. 

News from the CBO reveals that 22 million MORE Americans would lose health insurance under this plan. How can you possibly support legislation that essentially condemns people to die from treatable and preventable diseases? How can you possibly think such legislation is moral, or in the best interest of your constituents? What values are driving your decision making process? It sure isn't compassion, concern, or empathy. Is it greed? Cowardice? Something even worse? 

Your current position is untenable, as you're essentially proclaiming that it's perfectly okay for 22 million Americans to be at risk of sickness and death as long as your gilded cage buddies get a tax break. Such values disgust me, and if you choose to vote for this bill, then you are disgusting, as well.

Signed, 

Janiece

An Open Letter to the Coward Cory Gardner, Part 1

Dear Senator Gardner,

I am writing today to ask once again for you to reconsider your support for the Republican Health Care Bill. Even though you were on the super-secret drafting committee, I would like to point out some vital statistics that make the Bill (and you) suspect.

1. There were no women or people of color on the committee. You excluded over 50% of the population from being represented in the authorship of a Bill that will affect ALL OF US.

2. 10 of your 13 authors are ranked among the most conservative members of the Senate. Again, way to exclude representation of the majority of the country.

3. All of you have 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. Apparently diversity of thought is not permitted when crafting new legislation.

4. 25% of Coloradans are on Medicare. You're intentionally advocating to compromise the health of 25% of your constituents, after the State accepted the Medicaid expansion.

5. From 2013 to 2016, the uninsured rate for Colorado fell 7.7%. That comes out to 426,622 people who received health care under the ACA, who will probably be screwed under your Bill. You're not really looking out for your constituents.

6. Democrats and Independents, a full 48% of the Senate, were excluded from participating in the creation of your Bill, and denied the opportunity to participate in hearings. So your exclusion of everyone who's "not like you" also includes your own colleagues.

I do not understand the Republican Party or you specifically. You claim to be the party of "family values" and "Christianity," but you've shown damn little indication that you care about families, or about Jesus' teachings. You know, heal the sick, feed the hungry. That sort of thing.

The MAJORITY OF AMERICANS like the ACA and what it's done for our country's health care system. And yet, here you and the rest of the Republicans are, making false claims about its cost to the average citizen. For example, 45 keeps talking about how premiums for Alaskans have increased by 207% since the advent of the ACA based on a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. What he failed to include was the fact that the tax subsidies mean that Alaskans using the exchange are, on average, paying far less than they did before the ACA was enacted. By a lot. By 73%, in fact, thus once again igniting a conflagration in 45's trousers.

It's almost as though you and the rest of your cadre are really interested in going back to the good old days when a minority of rich, white, cis men made all the decisions for the majority with no input or consideration from the majority. This is not okay, as this sort of behavior heralds a desire for an authoritarian regime. I will remind you that supporting such a plan is in direct violation of your Oath of Office.

Signed,

Janiece