Dear Ms. Bono Mack:
Question ... why did we elect you? It's simple. We elected you to represent us, "the people."
Yet what has happened since you, and a awful lot of other members of the House arrived in Washington? You seemingly have forgotten about "the people" back home. As you bicker with Democrats on the other side of the aisle (and even bicker with some members of your own party) and bring government to a stand still, threaten to cutoff payments, and allow the credit rating of the US to fall from its triple A standing, you have ignored what is happening to the rest of us.
Being retired, much of my savings is in an IRA, which is linked to world wide markets. Your embarrassing obstructionist attitude this week has resulted in huge losses in my savings. Should you, and more accurately, the Tea Party Republican revolutionaries who appear to be bent on overthrowing the government, continue your ways, the resulting increase in interest rates from a US default, and the collapse of the stock market, would be tremendously more costly than any tax increase currently being proposed. And, it would be the middle class of America that would suffer the losses, something we cannot afford.
Yesterday in the Los Angeles Times, Rep. Richard Nugent was quoted as saying: "Not only do Republicans win if the bill passes. The bonus is, the president loses."
This is the mentality that is ruining this country. It's no longer about compromise or what's best for America. It's how best the parties can embarrass or degrade the other. It's time to get beyond that attitude and remember ... why did we elect you.
Raise the debt ceiling, not for a few months, but through 2013, then deal with the budget.
Dan Adams
Palm Springs, CA
