But, this year, I've had enough. Do you know how much money our country is in debt? 13 trillion dollars. I heard someone say that if you had a million dollars every day for 274 years that would equal a trillion. A trillion dollars is A LOT of money. Our Congress as it is now governed doesn't seem to grasp the gravity of that number.
In my mind, the federal government WAY overstepped its bounds this year. The gigantic stimulus package (which we have been told saved our economy-- unfortunately the housing and unemployment numbers do not agree), entitlement programs, bailouts, takeovers of the car industry, and the disastrous Obamacare have put our country on a path I don't think we should be on.
I have voted for Jim Matheson-D in two elections as my Congressman. No one wants to be wrong, but I am sitting here thinking I made a mistake. I've listened to 4 telephone town-hall meetings Mr. Matheson put on, been on his website, and written him letters. I think that puts me above the general electorate in how connected I've been with him. I've come to the conlcusion I do not agree with several of the choices he's made as my Congressman in the last 2 years.
- First, I am totally frustrated with the telephone town hall. A person asks a question, then Matheson gets the floor--whether or not he actually answers the question is irrelevant: the questioner and all others 'involved' in the town hall have no chance to question his reactions or statements. This is not a good forum for public debate. If you do not look your electorate in the eyes, you can not truly gauge how they are feeling.
- He voted for the Stimulus Bill. This was a HUGE government waste program. Obama promised if this bill was passed, unemployment would not rise about 7.5%. Now we're at 10%. Foreclosures are nearly as high as they were a year ago. The bill didn't work. The idea that the federal government can create jobs is wrong. Now our children are stuck with a gigantic and unethical debt. This is unpardonable in my mind.
- He voted for Cash for Clunkers. Come on. The bump this program gave to auto sales was a small blip on the economic map and it cost tax-payers 2 BILLION dollars. One economist said it best:
Government policy should not favor some industries at the expense of others, but that is exactly what cash for clunkers does. The program helps consumers who can take advantage, and it increases profit and employment in the auto industry. But funding for the program comes from all other taxpayers, so it harms the consumers and industries not supported by the program.
- His recent vote, with Nancy Pelosi's encouragement, helped to adjourn Congress before they had voted on a tax code for next year. Why the early adjournment? So the members of Congress could get out and campaign. LAME. Do your job, Congressmen. Figure out tax laws before you figure out how you are going to win your upcoming election. He defended this vote during a debate by calling it a 'procedural' vote. Procedural or not, it still has consequences.
- He has attacked his political opponent with half-truths. I won't go into the particulars, but listened to Morgan Philpot go point-by-point to defend himself agains these misleading ads. This was the last straw for me. I always thought Matheson was classy and above such things. Apparently, when push comes to shove, he cares more about his precious job than his integrity.
