A Little Respect Please

Over the weekend I was in Pennsylvania where I happened to catch Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz as I was perusing Sunday morning television.  Ms Schwartz, a democrat from the 13th Congressional District, was being interviewed on health care.  The Congresswoman, like most people, feels that something should be done about the rising cost of health care.  However, unlike most people, she supports the Obama backed plan that came out of the House. When asked if she had held any town hall meetings, Ms. Schwartz answered by saying that she had talked to a lot of people one-on-one and had her office talking to people--I took that as a no.  It's understandable that she wouldn't want to subject herself to the hostility that the town hall meetings have been generating, but please Ms. Schwartz, you don't get elected to only hear the good news.  I too wish that people at the town hall meetings yelled less and talked more.  But make no mistake, it's the people's right to express what they want done in Washington and it's the elected officials' job to listen.   However, this is not the part that really bothered me.  I actually got past her evasive, somewhat condescending and patronizing attitude until she said that something had to be done because "we (congress) pay for forty-six percent of health care bills."  Excuse me!  No!  Taxpayers pay for forty-six percent of health care bills.  In fact, for the most part, it's the same taxpayers that pay for private health insurance for themselves and their families plus health care for others via taxes.

The American taxpayer is feeling frustrated!  The government has rescued people that took out loans that they couldn't afford, banks for giving loans that they shouldn't have given, bailed out car companies that refuse to make cars that Americans want to buy and now they want to overhaul our health care system.  At this point, we aren't feeling confident that you have our best interest in mind.

To all of you that represent us in Washington:  We expect you to read the health care bill--all of it.  We expect you to understand it and then to communicate that understanding to us.  We expect you to listen to our feedback--even if it hurts your ears.  We expect respect--we pay the bills, including your salary.