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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Letter to my US Congresswoman
        
(Message started by: burnt-toast on Dec 16^th, 2005, 5:16pm)

Title: Letter to my US Congresswoman
Post by burnt-toast on Dec 16^th, 2005, 5:16pm

I have to assume that results of a recent poll were not favorable to our U.S. Congresswoman. After hearing little from her for nearly two terms she's suddenly started communicating with voters. I write my representatives frequently so I guess I'm on her mailing list.

This letter was sent in response to several recent E-mails she sent in an attempt to bolster her image. I know letters like this from one person won't do much, but do you think she'll get the message?

Dear Congresswoman (Name left out for post)

After the Supreme Court ruled that individuals do not have the right to own property, you promised legislation to correct this travesty. I've heard nothing to indicate that property owners in the State of Pennsylvania have since been protected. When will Pennsylvania property owners receive real protection from government seizure (I know how eminent domain works) of private property for private entities?

If you revitalize all of the brown-fields, will it create meaningful jobs in this region in sufficient numbers/quality for true economic growth? We have thousands of meaningful jobs being outsourced overseas with tax subsidies flowing to multinational corporations that are outsourcing these jobs. We are overrun with "Free Trade" agreements that ultimately contribute to our nations massive trade deficit, eliminate U.S. jobs, and allow wealthy corporations to post record profits. The service industry jobs being created in this backward economic environment do not provide a living wage for families in this region. When will tax subsidies to corporations moving jobs out of the country stop? When will one-sided "Free Trade" agreements be replaced by enforced "Fair Trade" agreements? When will we stop being sold out?

We have massive deficits and budget shortfalls at all levels of government. Despite federal/state/local-income, payroll, telephone, gas, electric, sales, gasoline, property, school, federal excise, inheritance, etc., etc., etc., taxes taking 60% of the annual gross income from the average worker, it's not enough. When will government waste at taxpayer expense be stopped? When will the untold numbers of politically created positions and programs in government be eliminated? When will political bribes to get legislation passed stop? When will Americans be permitted to keep their hard earned money and use it to create real economic growth? When will representatives at all levels of government understand that they've gone too far, or are you really that far removed from families you profess to represent?

Your latest E-mail talks about protecting workers pensions by making employers fund their (Pension) plans. Well taxpayers and employers have funded Social Security for decades and the government spends the money for general operations and special projects. What makes the government any different from employers who aren't funding their plans? Please add provisions in your legislation to protect the Social Security fund from elected representatives who drain it for purposes other than for which it was originally intended.

We have a new gambling board, its employees, and consultants, making extremely good livings off of Pennsylvania taxpayers. If your recall, gambling legislation was railroaded through as - "Property Tax Relief". Unfortunately gambling revenues were promised to so many special interests that nothing is left for "Property Tax Relief" and gambling is stuck in a quagmire of bureaucracy. Now we have new and improved "Property Tax Relief" legislation that isn't getting passed while Pennsylvania taxpayers pick up the tab for the cushy/high paying jobs created by gambling legislation. When will real property tax relief be provided? Pennsylvanian's are tired of renting their properties from mismanaged government within our mismanaged State.

We live in "X Borough, you remember, the place were residents can't afford costly tap-ins, laterals and monthly sewer rates forced upon residents of a mostly rural community that didn't need sewerage. Rest assured the developers fully appreciate the use of our money to pave the way for their profits. We will not forget your contribution to this community, as I recall it was not a single dollar to help residents pay a $60 million dollar debt to sewer just 1,800 homes when even The DEP could not find reason to mandate the project. When will the government serve the interests of residents before those of special interests?

Please discontinue sending my family these useless E-mails to tell us about all about the things you are doing. We're not buying it.

Title: Re: Letter to my US Congresswoman
Post by Mattchew on Dec 16^th, 2005, 5:24pm

Some aid will read it and trash it before she gets a chance to read it I bet.

Title: Re: Letter to my US Congresswoman
Post by Cerberus on Dec 17^th, 2005, 2:24pm

This is NEW to you?
Illinois passed a similar Non-ownership / Eminent Domain law reasonably recently as well. The Best part is all that was done on a State level, and now The Governor is trying to get the State to buy out or "Seize" ALL Casinos within the State so that they can have ALL of the revenue from Gambling rescources for their own purposes.
The difference being that Illinois really DOES recieve a LARGE portion of gambling revenue already, and another large portion is given to the cities these casinos operate in which in turn actually DOES improve conditions of the cities they are in, but ONLY in those cities and ONLY aesthetically...the large part of Illinois is STILL very corrupt governmentally ESPECIALLY Chicago.
What it means is...those people (such as Woobs) that do make a decent living working at a Casino would effectively be reduced to a flat rate of pay (about 25% of their current income level) if the State assumed ownership. That is of course, assuming that they would still be employed... which translates to BAD for everyone.
What is currently GOOD about this? Well, it boils down to this... the Companies that own these casinos are typically based in Nevada OR Native American run operations. Neither of which Illinois NOR the Feds can touch because of National gambling laws and Federal Treaties with Native Americans. We remain Semi-protected although the State can still "take away" the land that they are on. With the exception of the Indian operations since they fall under the jurisdiction of Reservation Property and are exempt even from federal tax. The Vegas/Nevada run casinos can simply leave and take their millions with them, and the State can't really afford that to happen neither statistically or financially.
Just prior to the election of the current Governor, Illinois Congress passed a tax law trying to squeeze more money from the casinos (Saying that the more people that come to gamble, the more you are going to pay us in Taxes) because the State taxes them per gambler. The casinos responded by taking measures to limit the occupancy of thier operations. (limit the occupancy by taking away games/tables and laying off staff = evade the tax hike) and it took about one fiscal quarter for the state to feel the financial pressure.
Incoming revenue was drastically reduced leaving Illinois with a rather large + already massive deficit and a equally sizable upcoming debt for things already approved and couldn't pay for leaving themselves in breach of contract and contractors filing suits and stopping of services. The tax was lifted.
Yes, alot of hospitality jobs pay crapola, but to take THOSE away too? Bad Idea, its the only thing aside from farming keeping Illinois alive at all with an Unemployment rate higher (by like 2-3 points) than the National average which sends the Federal Gov't breathing down their necks for screwing up the National numbers. Which were actually (before Iraq) starting to improve... gotta love politics! :-X
I said in another thread that Illinois is a mostly Democratic State, with a mostly Democratic Congress and a Democratic Governor... No Checks and Balances...No GOOD can come from this. I voted republican last gubernatorial election, and recieved alot of flak about it.

being able to say "I told you so" to those who chastised me about my vote?... PRICELESS.

'Bus