An Open Letter to Congress

I really don't expect any of you in Congress to read this let alone respond but yet I will write it.




First of all, to those of you that have stood and made an attempt to help pass the UE extention, I want to say thank you. At the time of this writting we are one vote away from passage of this much needed bill.



Secondly, to those of you who have opposed this, called for us to be placed in concentration camps and made comments about us being lazy, drug addicts and no wanting to work, I hope in November you loose everything you have and have to file bankruptcy. I am not being mean or hateful, I just think you need to find out what it feels like to suddenly be forced to stand in line after line for jobs that don't exist and for help that never comes.



If it were in my power you would not get any health care benefits, any retirement and you would work for free for a year or two to payback the money you have stolen from the tax payers. Then I would have you put in a maximun security prision for the same number of years you have served in Congress.



I lost my job 1 and 1/2 years ago due to the economic downturn and corporate greed. After 6 months of looking for a job, I gave up and went back to school. No goverment grant was available for me. Couldn't refinance my house because the mortagage company you helped bail out wouldn't work with me, nor would any of my creditors.



I am still unable to find a job. I don't blame Congress for this. I realize you can't force people to buy things, or hire people. But when you fail to act on helping the unemployed you help to put this country farther into economic trouble.



You will instantly bail out the auto industry, the banks, Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac, and the rest of your buddies, but continue to stand in the way of the unemployed getting help.



Three days ago, July 7th, I filed bankruptcy. Thanks to you, I can no longer draw my UE. So, what government programs do you have now that are gonning to help me?



Over the course of this year, I have been contacting you on a range of issues that directly affect the jobless - jobs bills, unemployment benefit extensions, COBRA subsidies, food stamps and mortgage relief. I have asked my friends, family and neighbors to join me in this effort.



From my perspective, state and federal officials have a duty to do all they can to end this economic trauma. But the latest example of leaving town for The Fourth of July recess without taking action on unemployment benefits, dropping COBRA help and not creating a Tier 5 benefit tells me that Congress isn't listening. But the early primary results also say loud and clear that voters are turning up the volume on their demands.



I want to work! I need to work! And I will be working and voting to see that my elected representatives are equally committed to getting me back to work