Washington gives us another reason to shake our heads in despair

“You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't mean just whether a politician is scientifically literate, but people who vote politicians into office." 

Neil deGrasse Tyson 

Editor’s note: I wrote this letter in response to Idaho U.S. representative Raul Labrador’s absurd comment about health care. Yes, I am a registered democrat who often disagrees with the Republican’s agenda, but when you make a comment like this, no matter what party you are from, it demeans all voters and whittles away our trust in our leaders. Please, no acerbic comments. Save it for the Internet trolls who post their anger on news organizations' websites.

Representative Raul Labrador did you understand the repercussions of your callous remark when you uttered "Nobody dies because they don't have access to health care?”

I am shocked by your arrogance and how uninformed you are about the health-care issue.

Nearly everyday I am embarrassed by unenlightened congressmen or presidents who have NO clear understanding of issues — or American history for that matter. I guess, sir, you are an active member in that exclusive club, which contributes to our disillusionment of our leaders.

Let me help you, Mr. Labrador, especially since you clearly don’t understand the health-care issue in this nation.

According to Time magazine: “A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Public Health before Obamacare became law said that 45,000 deaths in the U.S. were linked to a lack of health insurance.” Congressman, people who have health insurance live longer and are treated with respect in any emergency room.

That is a fact, Sir!

This is not fake news even though the current administration has made it a priority to discredit dedicated journalists.

The only thing that is really fake is the GOP’s agenda. Anyway, thank you for solidifying my loyalty to the Democratic Party.

But then again I shouldn’t be surprised when a member of the GOP makes another insulting and inaccurate statement. Absurd, inaccurate and hateful comments have become epidemic from the right side of political spectrum, and much of it starts from the top at the White House.

Sincerely,

Tony Blasi

Feet of clay on Capitol Hill

"He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career."

                                                                                                                          George Bernard Shaw

AUBURN, Maine — If you couldn't come up with a definitive answer to Congress's buffoonery this past week, request a brain scan from your family physician to explain why you are oblivious to a shutdown that is paralyzing a nation still suffering from a wobbling economy.

For those of you who live under a rock or are inebriates shaking off a yearlong hangover, thousands of federal employees are not getting paid and have swelled the ranks of the unemployed.

According to NBC.com, the feds are losing $12 million an hour. That adds up to $300 million a day or $1.6 billion a week.

A conservative friend of mine just snickers at the entire debacle and believes the shutdown will lower the deficit. It won't take you long to figure which corner he is in when it comes to politics. It was a smart-ass remark — especially when people are unemployed. The deficit will continue to grow because Congress, for some absurd reason, is still collecting a check.

The answer is clear. The 535 guys and gals who work for you on Capitol Hill have taken a long nap as America slides in into a sea of despair and disrepair.

This Congress is like the whining kid who walks off with his football because he is frustrated with the outcome of a game.

The Tea Party has sabotaged its own party and Boehner is left holding the bag as panicking moderates can't get it together to put an end to a stalemate that should have never occurred.

There are numerous issues that need to be addressed in this nation, but throwing a money wrench into the federal budget is not sound decision making.

I also believe the Obama administration has done a poor job explaining the new health care plan, but that doesn't excuse Congress's efforts to undermine it.

I will make it clear again — it is the law. How hard is that for the GOP to figure that out.

The U.S. government should not be used a ransom note because a group of Republicans are simply unhappy. You have to wonder how many lobbyists are lining members of Congress's pockets with silver and gold in effort to shelve the president's policy.

The Tea Party should go back to drinking coffee. These guys are only good for a good laugh.

What I find outrageous, and I am surprised a majority of our citizens haven't felt the same, is these inept leaders are members of of this government, and they have no problem condemning it as evil and immoral. These so-called leaders have made a career out of finger-pointing and creating fear and animosity, which I think has weakened our nation and has become fodder for late-night comedians who are delivering punch lines at the expense of this nation's leaders.

I know there is a painful price to pay in politics when any leader takes a stand. But if a politician doesn't take stand at some point, then he is just another leader who just goes with the flow, and we seem to be electing a lot this sort lately. 

Americans continue to scrape the bottom of the barrow when they vote, and this is what you get on the floor of Congress.

We should all be appalled and ashamed our leaders. I know I am. Remember this pathetic episode in American politics when you vote!