Feeling Helpless

Urged on by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, I picked up my virtual quill and penned a pro-life  email to Connecticut's 2 senators and my district's representative as Congress continues to roll forward with a national health care plan.  They say it makes a difference, but in my humble opinion, it's a waste of time.

One senator wrote back with a canned response explaining what was going on, but ignored the reasons for my email, namely keeping abortion out of any federally funded plans.  The other senator sent me back a canned response to funding of stem cell research.  Nice work by a staffer, no doubt.  Finally, my representative just let me know he disagrees with my philosophy - vote me out!  Hey, at least he isn't hiding his position.

In the age of technology, we should give every voting citizen a computer and allow us to vote on bills ourselves.  We'd become our own representatives.  Instead of senators each state could have 2 advocates representing opposite sides on an issue to help us decide how to vote - may the best salesman win.  Likewise, we should be able to allocate our tax dollars towards budget items we support.  Don't like war, no tax money for national defense.  Want to help the hungry, more tax money for food stamps.  With broadband and a laptop, who needs a politician?  Sign me up!

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