To Congressman Jim Matheson:

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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 @ 4:40PM

Dear Sir,

I have insurance.  I am fortunate enough to have an employer who provides insurance for me and treats me well even with all the gripes and nitpicking I may have, as we all have about our jobs.  It helps the day go by nitpicking to make one feel like they are smarter than those holding a status or job over me or you or whoever.  However, after hearing what you had to say on Radio West yesterday I feel like my gripes may not be justified because I have insurance and you do too. Yours is probably better than mine.  I won’t let this stop me though.

Now, I’ve heard many politicians talk about how great their health insurance is on television with finely dressed hair, perfect smiles, a healthy glow of spray-on tan, etc.  I know you are aware of television because you raise money to be on it.  You want people to hear your platform, your arguments against or for whatever it is you think needs the public’s attention.  Where do these arguments come from?  Being a public servant I would think that they would come from the public but I understand television is expensive and the media companies won’t put your shiny smile on the T.V. for free.  (Before I press on Mr. Matheson I should confess I am going to be very stereotypical regarding politicians - you may or may not be guilty of all, none or some of these offenses).  Capital gets you the access to the media so you can spread your propaganda (subjective) but you need donors to get there.  It doesn’t matter who they are as long as they have free money, right?  What a concept: free money!  These donors like you so much they are going to give you a portion of their earned profits for nothing.  Right?  I mean money is typically exchanged for good and services - something we are very good at in this country - but politicians get it for free because they are sacrificing their time for the public good and if watching television has taught me anything there has been a lot of public good done: war, bribes, TARP and one of my favorites, nepotism.  Isn’t that what you are really selling?  Nepotism.  Because it’s illegal for a company to act in the interest of anything but its own interests, why should the populace think anything other than your services are bought to pass laws for the benefit of your donors?

So Congress, tell me why United States Citizens do not deserve health care - every single one of us, rich and poor?  The same health care you enjoy even.  I don’t think everyone wants or needs to be a shiny on TV as the politicians are but they don’t want to lose their entire lives (house, car, spouse, kids, family dog, sanity and happiness) over sickness because you Blue Dogs (read: conservative democrats) suddenly want to be fiscally responsible.  It is too late for that.  You and your kind have already sold us out and still want to tell us what is good for us?  What gives?  How about we let the doctors tell us what is good and bad for us?  Arguments about a single payer system range from price to assuming people, like yourself, don’t want bureaucrats telling us about health care.  You are willing to pay to send people off to wars and die (whether necessary or not) but not spend the money to keep them healthy.  This is a big contradiction for me.  We can pay taxes to buy weapons and fund companies like Halliburton, Bank of America and the like but the small business owner and her employees can’t get health insurance.  Justify it anyway you want but that is not right.  I suspect you and your fellow Congress persons know this.  What is clouding your judgment then?  Ahhh yes, television, money and re-election.

My nest point is over the entire batch of criticism about a single payer system.  Basically the skeptics say it doesn’t work but if they would take the time to stop the meaningless flag waving and act on the pride they have for their nation why couldn’t the United States make a single payer system work better and more efficient than anywhere else in the world?  What about civic duty?  What about loyalty to your fellow citizen and concern for their well being?  What is stopping us from doing what is right the right way?  Greed, sir.  It is the only item that balances out the equation.  The broken capitalism you and we all function under is not ruled by markets but by unjust laws and bills passed that only stack the deck against the average man, woman and child because they don’t pay you or your peers re-election funds.

And lastly, pride of another kind.  The pride of doing a good job.  Are you, sir, doing a good job?  I know when I am not doing a good job and someone says I am doing a good job I feel stupid - for the person paying the compliment and myself.  It makes a person feel kind of empty.  So Mr. Matheson, are you doing a good job serving the public regarding the health issue and any other issues?  Are you doing the right thing not for yourself (as you ideally serve a selfless position) but by those you represent and the have-nots who no doubt need your representation more than that haves. 

It is easy to say, “socialism this and socialism that” while not really thinking about what we, as individuals, rally for or against.  Words and slogans without any grounding fly all over the place and people shake their fists and get angry without thought and take something good, such as a healthy and cared for population, and make it sound like Armageddon.  The framing of this issue is all off. 

You will probably not read this, which is fine.  It’s from a radio DJ of all people.  I do pay taxes though if it makes you feel any better.  I am not trying to be cynical but get my head around this issue.  I hope others drop you line so I am putting your contact info down below along with a link to a clip from Keith Oberman (he is a blow hard but I wish I got to hear more about who is taking what money from whom so I can draw my own conclusions).

Thanks for the time,

Corey O’Brien

Contact Info for Congressman Jim Matheson

Toll-Free Number 1 (877) 677-9743
Email by clicking here.

Clip from Countdown with Keith here.

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