By Andy Showen
GCC/Staff
Dec. 24, 2009

While I believe the following is true, my point is, flattery will get you farther with anyone than bile. Feel free to replicate

“Senator Ben Nelson
720 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Via Fax: (202) 228-0012

Dear Senator Nelson:

I believe you to be a man of honor with a good record of fiscal restraint. I cannot imagine the pressure you must be under in the mafia-like atmosphere that Washington has become.

I implore you, one behalf of what is best about the “old” Ben Nelson, to change your position supporting cloture on this health care bill.

The now-infamous “Nebraska shakedown” is very likely to go down in history with the corrupt bargains of 1820, the Hayes-Tilden election of 1876, and Iran-Contra as among the top ten shameful corrupt moments in American history.

Unfortunately Ben Nelson will be the name kids reading history books associate with it, probably unfairly. The “old” Ben Nelson who cut spending as governor of Nebraska and stood firm against his party on issues he believed in will become an ironic footnote. I think that would be a damn shame.

Whatever the merits of extending health insurance to the uninsured and uninsurable, whatever this chimera of a cobbled-together bill is, it is loaded with unforeseen consequences that no one could possibly have thought through in the few days the leadership has been throwing it together.

Middle America has no confidence in what is happening, nor should we. We have no reason to believe that the government can manage or solve the challenges of health care better than the present flawed system.

Everybody has hard moments in life where we are uncertain which way to turn. Sometimes we have to make a split second irrevocable decision and are stuck forever with the consequences.

I think you have the rare opportunity to redeem your reputation and help defeat this monstrous bill.

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@goldcoastchronicle.com