Open Rant to Congress

I am pretty sure my brain is imploding. Not even kidding. I went to the ER on Monday because my head was literally popping, my husband could HEAR it.

It’s a good thing I have insurance.

The doctor said it was a combination of migraine, pneumonia and sinus infection.

I think it was something else. I think it was incredulity at the idea that the government was actually going to shut down, that we have elected officials willing to dig their heels in and act like petulant children because they didn’t get what they wanted.

And, you know, fuck us.

I totally recognize that there are a number of stated reasons behind this shut down, but much of it comes down to the Affordable Care Act. Or Obamacare, as some people are wont to call it.

Republican controlled House has tried over 40 times to repeal it. 40 times.

40 times.

About that –

First, you know that adage – doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results being the definition of insanity? Yeah, you have that nailed.

Then there’s the thank-you-for-wasting-valuable-time-banging-your-heads-against-a-brick-wall-instead-of-doing-something-PRODUCTIVE-in-there aspect of this.

I’d have rather seen you guys in party hats dancing around Gangnam Style. Try to repeal it once. maybe twice. Give it a good ol’ college try.

BUT 40+ TIMES?????

And what do you do when it doesn’t work? You cross your arms, put your head in the air and refuse to play. Are you nine????

And what drives me most nuts about this, is the REPUBLICAN talking heads that bring up the “exemptions” of federal staffers.

You’re making people all crazy over this. WHAT? The people on the hill are exempt? How Unfair! Foul!

But…you aren’t really qualifying WHAT that exemption means.

Lots of people would be WAY less freaked out about that if you mentioned that the federal employees are exempt from the perspective of them being the ONLY group FORCED out of their employer funded health plan and being MADE to participate in the exchange.

NO ONE else is being forced into that if they have employer coverage. Just like the president said.

And you making a big issue of how now the tax payers will have to pay for them to participate in the exchange?

You split-tongued assholes. If they had employer (aka US GOVERNMENT) funded health plans to begin with, we were ALREADY paying for their health plans.

And who had this great idea to MAKE them participate in the exchange? YOU did.

You have tried really hard to pull it off, to gain enough support to force congressional hands – every time the word Obamacare came out of your mouth, you confused one more citizen who can’t be bothered to read or identify a primary source.

I think Jimmy Kimmel’s little about-town foray the other day is great evidence of how successful you were in confusing the American people.

So what have you accomplished there? Created LESS informed citizens that will vote.

Awesome.

But at least that sword slices both ways.

And who gets hurt by all this?

Not you. You surely have a nice little cushion in the bank to pay your bills and buy food for your families. You’re all good to hunker dawn, have a snow day.

Sooo many other people are hurting. Regular people. We, the people.

Like the vets that arrived to see the DC memorial.

Like the couple that had booked their honeymoon as a national park adventure trip.

Like ALL THE KIDS ON WIC! Sure, there is enough in the local coffers to keep that rolling for a short while, but then what? If you need 8.00 worth of assistance for vegetables, you NEED those 8.00. I know. I needed them once.

Like all the federal employees that live paycheck to paycheck who suddenly won’t be getting one. Because, well, screw them and their service.

But what IS still happening?

Payroll taxes.

Which is funny. Because a while back, many moons ago, there was a big fracas in our country about taxes. The people revolted over taxation without representation.

I think they did something to Boston Harbor…what was it?

That’s right. They dumped boatloads of tea into the harbor. Had themselves quite a little tea party revolt.

And today? Those people who stood up to their government and demanded change are rolling in the graves.

Because today’s Tea Party movement is, to a large degree, responsible for this travesty.

So why don’t you all crawl down off your high horse, go back to work and MOVE ON.

Put on the big girl panties and recognize when you have to admit defeat. Don’t sit there and whine about not getting what you wanted; what’s done is done. Look to the next thing on the horizon and try to make our country better.

God knows, we need all the help we can get.