The Honorable John Spratt
Congressman, 5th Congressional District of South Carolina
United States House of Representatives
1401 Longworth Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman John Spratt:
My wife and I are fairly new residents of Fort Mill, SC. We moved here, as many have done, due to out of control rising home prices, taxes, and cost of living expenses in the Northeastern United States. We sold our home in Southern New Jersey two years ago, leaving behind our family and friends. We did this so that we may be able to afford a middle class life to start a family. When we decided on Fort Mill, SC, I did hours of research on my new hometown and state, including the politicians that would be representing me. Your record gave me pause but, I was willing to give you a chance since many news articles stated you are fiscally responsible.
I am writing to express my concern with your votes over the past nine months that are fiscally irresponsible. I am deeply concerned with the path this country is on, borrowing and spending like never before in history. As Congress continues to foolishly act, or rather react, I see the United States far surpassing Japan’s lost decade creating Lost Generations, and Congressman you are part of that problem. I am not some lockstep Republican hack; I am just as mad at Republicans for getting us into this mess as Democrats.
However, now that Democrats are completely in charge with nobody to blame but themselves, Congressional Democrats and President Obama are going full throttle instead of putting on the brakes and reversing course. Even today Congressional Democrats and the President are trying to rush the $1.8 Trillion Healthcare Bill through for political expedience instead of taking time to get it right the first time.
Back in October, we the residents of the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina, lit up the House switch board, emailed, and sent letters against TARP. You ignored us and voted for it anyway. In February, with a Stimulus package full of wasteful projects and mostly backed ended, you ignored the onslaught of criticism from your constituency and voted “Yea”. Please tell me how exactly projects starting two to four years from now is stimulating to our current economy? One month later in March, you again ignored us and voted for the President’s Omnibus Spending Bill that had nearly 9,000 pork filled earmarks. Just over a month ago the House phone system was overloaded in opposition to the Climate Change Bill; it took me nearly 15 minutes to stop getting an “All circuits are busy” message.
Even that did not dissuade you from voting “Yea” for a Climate Change Bill that, on its face, does not even do what it was intended. What it will do is crush business and industry causing massive unemployment, force people to retrofit their home before they put it up for sale, and “…electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket” to quote President Obama.
As stated above we have made our voices and intentions known to you and yet you have blatantly ignored us. Why do you ignore your constituents? Is it because you think we are just too stupid to know what’s best for us? Is it because you have something to gain in the situation? Is it because you have been in Washington too long and care more about campaign contributors instead of you constituency? Whatever the reason that you ignore us does not matter because it will soon change. I want to make it known to you that I will do everything in my power to stand against your re-election. I am sending copies of this letter to various outlets, including both the Democrat and Republican Headquarters in York County, SC. I will see to it that you come back home to York County and never return to Washington for anything other than a family vacation. I will stand with any person who wants to run against you whether that is a Republican, Independent or even a member of your own party. Congressman, you have lost your sense of duty and it is now time to come home.
In closing, Washington is on a record pace, blindly voting major bills into law that will in turn leave this country with Lost Generations all without reading one word of the bill. When we the citizens of this great nation scream at the top of our unified lungs, you ignore us and vote as you wish anyway. You think it is game we are playing, so you hire a speed-reader to read a proposal aloud. I will tell you it is not a game; you are a member of the United States House of Representatives and you represent us, the residents of the 5th District of South Carolina. Since you do not understand what we say verbally or written, then just maybe on Election Day in 2010 you will understand us loud and clear. I will leave you with this quote from Thomas Jefferson to think about “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
Sincerely,
David E. Siebert
CC: Via e-mail
York County Republican Party Headquarters
Rock Hill, SC 29730
York County Democratic Party Headquarters
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Dillon Herald
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