Dear Representative or Senator X,
I'm writing today to express my deep and profound outrage and anger at the imminent passage of the so-called bankruptcy reform bill. Although we have seen the steady erosion of middle class economic security in the last several decades, this legislation represents a cruel and unprecendented assault on middle class families who have fallen into misfortune, and flies in the face of anything remotely resembling decency. And the fact that so many Democrats in both chambers would help to enable it will I believe be a wake-up call to the American people (of all political persuasions). Ralph Nader's prophecy has finally, it seems, come to pass. There really is no difference between Democrats and Republicans on bread and butter economic issues.
Over the years, I have tolerated - even in many cases supported - Democratic capitulation to the conservative Republcan agenda, on everything from NAFTA to welfare reform to all manner of insane crime legislation to Mr. Bush's tax cuts on the wealthy. I reluctantly supported the war in Iraq, in part because Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant, and in part because the prospect of a functioning democracy in the heart of the Arab world could have profoundly positive implications for the region, and ultimately for our own security.
I'm a moderate. I support faith-based funding for social services, school vouchers, free trade, a more decent culture, and limited bureaucracy. But there are certain lines that must never be crossed, and this bill is truly the final straw, the worst kind of corporatist, plutocratic pandering. There is nothing "common sense" about it. Every Democrat in congress who helped in any way to enable its enaction deserves to be unseated (particularly those who voted to end the senate filibuster, and particularly those House Democrats who sent the noxious letter endorsing its speedy passage to Tom Delay) and I - along with many others - will work vigorously toward that end. I would urge those Democrats (particularly in red America) to take a glance at the top ten bankruptcy states. Nearly all of them are solidly red states in the heartland, the south, and the inter-mountain west. Do you really believe that your constituents are crying out for less debt relief? Are Democrats in congress really *that* out of touch? I would urge Democrats to browse through the comments thread on this issue at the arch-conservative website Free Republic. A majority of the commenters - hard right conservative Republicans - are adamantly opposed to this bill. You can be sure that opposition is even stronger among liberals, moderates, and independents.
The Democrats must become the party of the middle class again, starting now, and the full repeal of this law must become a central plank in the Democratic Party's platform. This Democrat can no longer in good conscience support any candidate for national office - for the house, senate, or presidency - who does not commit him or herself to overturning this hideous legislation.
Sincerely,
Spot