Yes, I did.  I wrote my Congressman.  This health care legislation should have everyone expressing their view.  The idea of pushing through some massive program which no one completely understands or knows what will be the effect in five years is sheer folly. 

I really don’t expect my Congressman to even read my letter, but I feel better about sending it.  My correspondence will probably be a check in a box somewhere.  But, who knows?   I put it down below.  I tried to be on point and not too angry.  I was mostly successful.  You can decide for yourself.

Dear Congressman Connolly,

I received your recent correspondence encouraging us to contact you if we needed help in dealing with the Government bureaucracy.  I appreciate your interest.

My problem is with what is happening  in Congress regarding health care.  At the present time, I am retired military and over 65.  So my wife and I received Medicare and Tri-Care for Life.  I personally believe that these medical benefits came as a promise from my country for serving for 28 years.  I am convinced that any new health care legislation will reduce our benefits.  I’ve seen draft language where we would be required to make co-payments for our Tri-Care.  This goes back on the promise to the military. 

I don’t accept promises from President Obama on health benefits.  His promise that the military won’t be touched rings hollow.  He promised no more “pork” in legislation.  Now, he acts like he never said it.  His administration was not going to include lobbyists.  That also went by the wayside.  “No more business as usual.”  You see why when he promises Tri-Care won’t be touched, I cringe.  

President Obama has me very disturbed.  His plan to take from the rich and give to the poor is ridiculous for a number of reasons.  First, Robin Hood was fiction.  Not bad fiction, but fiction.  Secondly, there is no way the Government can take enough from the rich to pay for all the poor in the health care arena.  I am convinced this is marching towards Socialism.

President Obama says there are 50,000,000 in our country without health care insurance.  I suspect a not insignificant number of them are illegal aliens.  I don’t want to pay for the health care of people who snuck into this country.  He says we can add these 50,000,000 to our health care rolls and do it more economically.  “We will be more efficient.”  That is such an old and hackneyed expression.  Please don’t support the President on health care legislation that will end up taking money from one group and giving to another, with the Government deciding issues that should be between the doctor and the patient.

Any legislation as significant as universal health care should be bipartisan.  Start with small steps, not with something that is so large, no one can understand the repercussions until it is too late.  I would be interested in knowing where you stand.  Please don’t be a minion for the Speaker.  It is not in the best interest of your constituents nor yourself.

Very truly yours, 

Somewhere in my youth, I was told that it takes a big man to admit he is wrong.  So I bought into that.  Some days, I would get bigger and bigger as the day progressed.

So, why can’t the President admit when he is wrong or does something stupid?  Why can’t he just admit he goofed when he bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia?  To have his people come out and say he didn’t bow makes them all look stupid and untrustworthy.  Anyone who saw the pictures or video knows he bowed.  Hey, its a goof, but it’s not a big deal.  Lying is a big deal.

The bowing incident reminds me of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”  Does Obama really believe he didn’t bow?  Does he believe anyone believes him?  I think he is just too arrogant to admit his mistakes.

Then, he screws up by pronouncing that the Boston police acted stupidly.  He prefaced his comment by saying he didn’t have the facts.  He should have stopped right there.  Then he wouldn’t have acted stupidly.  Then, he was surprised that it became a big deal.  He stated that he could have calibrated his words differently.  What does that mean?  Acted foolishly, sillily, unwisely, injudiciously, imprudently, witlessly?  What calibration are we talking about?

The big loser is probably Professor Gates, who, after the beer fest, saw his racial profiling best-seller book go up in smoke.

I can’t wait for the next Presidential press conference.  I am very interested in what President Obama thinks about the Cleveland Indians trading away their star Catcher, Victor Martinez, the day before the Indians were to celebrate Victor Martinez Bobblehead Night at Progressive Field.  I sure hope he can get this one properly calibrated.