My letter to Time, Newsweek and local papers

[greenbriar]

An open letter to all Senators and Representatives:

You say you want to hear from the people, listen closely. I am a daughter. My father died at the age of 65 because of an untreatable form of cancer. My mother lives by herself on a very tight budget. I am a Wife. Recently, my husband had an extensive stay at the Mayo Clinic leaving us with a bill that is almost half my yearly teaching salary. This amount is after insurance paid its small part because we had to go out of network. I am a Mother. My daughter worries about how to pay for college as she struggles to maintain her good grades in over-crowded classrooms. I am a friend. Just this weekend I attended the funeral of a beloved friend, a sheriff who was killed by meth abusers. I am a teacher. I buy supplies for my students because many can not afford what is necessary to complete standards based assignments. Sometimes I buy for classes that number 35-40. Most days I feel I do nothing more than deal with behavioral problems. I am a Christian. My bible tells me to not cast stones, not to judge and to love everyone.

You say you want to represent the people, but you don't listen. There are real problems in the world. There are real issues to be concerned with, for instance, health care, drug problems in our youth, over crowded schools, poverty, social security protection and the list goes on and on. Before you worry about the NON issue of Ann and Eve and Adam and Steve, worry about the issues that really affect your constituency. I could care less about gay union. It does NOT affect the sanctity of my marriage, but the real issues do. I am a TAX PAYER but even more importantly, I am a VOTER and I am not alone.