Dear Representative Hartzler,
A few of my friends and I who are
members of GRO - Grass Roots Organizing - went to the meeting here in
Mexico at the library to talk about the issues we would like you
consider. I know Austin Kramer took notes, but I am following up with
a few comments.
The people attending had diverse
opinions. But I did not hear anyone support decreasing Social
Security in anyway, and most objected vociferously. Chained CPI is a
loser for average folks too-- most of Congress does not have much
reference point personally to being on Social Security of any sort
themselves yet. It's a no-brainer, though. It will not get anyone
re-elected.
My friends and I are also concerned
about just wages for all, and the great divide that exists in this
country today between the lower wage workers and the extremely
wealthy.
The other point that I personally made
in the discussion was that this country needs to return to taxing the
wealth. Back in my parent's day, when Ike Eisenhower was President,
taxes on the wealthy were much higher than they are today, and
Republicans like him believed that appropriate for fairness. The most
advantaged citizens ought to pay a larger share. The tax cuts
installed under President George Bush as temporary are still in force
and benefit the wealthy and the large corporations. Reinstating fair
taxes would solve budget concerns and help us all work together
rather than some of us having to merely exist day to day.
Also I identify myself as an
environmentalist, a member of Sierra Club and the ConservationFederation of Missouri. One of the most imperative measures we must
take to slow down global climate change is to stop using fossil
fuels. Right now mining for coal has shifted from the Appalachians to
the Powder River Basin out West. Warren Buffett has a scheme to start
up railroads to cart coal across Native American lands from Powder
River Basin mines to the State of Washington so it can be exported to
Asia. The amount shipped is likely to raise the global temperature
even more, and people in China are already suffering from devastating
pollution now. Since most of those mining leases are under the care
of the Bureau of Land Management the USA should be considering what
is ethical behavior.
http://www.wildearthguardians.org/site/PageServer?pagename=priorities_climate_energy_coal_powder_river_global_warming#.UnLNK-LwjIV
In fact the two largest beneficiaries
of cheap coal mine leases are Arch Coal and Peabody, both based in
St. Louis.
I hope you or your staff can study
these issues and let me know how you see a resolution of these
problems for your constituents, for all Americans, and for the world.
We all need to work together to address the future of the Earth and
all its peoples.
Thank you for your interest and taking
the time.
Sincerely,
Patricia M. Berg
