Let's Hold Our Elected Officials to a Higher Standard!

Greetings all,

I am posting copies of letters I sent to one of Colorado's state senators.  It is an ongoing discussion, but I wanted to share this as I feel it is important that no matter what our differing political beliefs, we can work to solve our problems with a little civility and decency.  It is time to put the partisan era behind us and move on to rebuilding this great country.  

There are many reading this who live in Senator Shultheis' district on the north side of El Paso County.  Please contact senator Shultheis and hold him accountable for his actions.  We must hold all of our elected officials to a higher standard.  They sought out the responsibility to govern and must accept responsibility for their actions both good and bad.  For those others reading this to you as an example that we do not have to stand idly by while our elected leaders continue to perform their jobs poorly.  Please take time to contact your elected officials regularly.  The more we all stay in their in boxes, the more they have to listen to the will of We the People.

"What I'm hoping is that, yes, that person may have AIDS... as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that." --David Schultheis Colorado State Senator

Mr. Schultheis,

It sickens me to read that you actually would prefer that a baby be born with AIDS so that the mother may feel guilty about her behaviors that caused the problem.  As best as I can tell you are the only person in the Colorado State Senate who voted against this bill.  

I am writing to tell you that I am sickened by your behavior as a legislator.  You along with many of your Republican colleagues ran out of good ideas a long time ago.  In case you hadn't noticed Senator, The people of Colorado and the United States have voted for progressive change.  We the people have demanded change.  We are tired of the negative politics of hate and dogma that the Republican party has become associated with.  You sir continue to move this image forward for your party along with many of your other Republican colleagues around the country.

I believe that you must make a public apology for this statement.  It is time to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem sir.  If you cannot bring your self to apologize for this insensitive and hateful statement then I think it will be time for you to go.

Sincerely a registered Independent voter from Colorado Springs.

-- 
Jeremy Cook

XXX XXXXX XXXX

Colorado Springs, CO XXXXX

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Ravenlaughing@gmail.com 

Jeremy:

 

These words were taken entirely out of context

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This was the complete reply to my first letter.  So I wrote Senator Schultheis the following:

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Senator Shultheis,

I find it entirely unacceptable that you are a legislator in this great state.  As you can see I received your reply to my letter.  I have also managed to find your blog and this has cemented my view that you are not fit for public office in Colorado or any other body of government.  Unfortunately or maybe fortunately you are not my Senator.  If you were my Senator, we would be discussing recall procedures.

This first thing that stands out in what I have seen, read, and heard about is that you refuse to take responsibility for your actions or what you say.  If you said, "What I'm hoping is that, yes, that person may have AIDS... as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that,"

be a man and own it.  

You write in your blog

 "Unfortunately, I made a comment to a reporter in haste that misspoke my position on this issue. That happens. It’s a risk for all those who work in the public eye."

Yet in your reply to me all you can say is that your comment was taken out of context.   Which is it an unfortunate mistake, or a comment that you made that which was taken out of context by a reporter?

I'm sorry Senator, but you can't talk out both sides of your mouth and eat your cake too.  If you don't mean it don't say it.  That's the values I was raised with.  

The next thing I noticed is that you are one of these politicians who likes to "be for it, before you were against it."  The following is also taken directly from your blog :

"When I first heard of the bill in the Health and Human Services Committee several days earlier, I was quite moved by testimony as to how such testing could assist an unborn baby, mitigating effects of his or her mother’s HIV/AIDS condition. As a result, I voted “Yes” in supporting the bill along with the rest of the committee."

"Subsequent to the committee vote, and prior to my vote of “NO” on the floor, I wrestled with a number of issues regarding the bill. I sought counsel from quite a number of people for whom I have great respect. The primary question and the one I apply whenever any issue is brought up for discussion is: “Is this a proper role for government?” '

I am not taking this out of context am I Senator?  I think not.  I think you are talking out of both sides of your mouth again.

Next up in our discussion I would like to comment on the following also from your blog:

"Long-standing stigmas against out-of-wedlock sexual activity were put in place by societies to slow the spread of disease and deal with challenges of raising children without full family units. Our nation has walked away from those stigmas over the past half century…illegitimate birth rates are through the roof…some argue the true cause of poverty, criminal or substance abuse in our society can be primarily tied to the ills of out-of-wedlock births. It is a serious issue, but, as a caring nation, we try not to impose the mistakes of the parents on their children."

While I agree that many of the ills of society are aggravated by unwanted pregnancies, I would not say that they are the cause of poverty, crime and drug abuse in our society.  Was poverty in the middle ages caused by illegitimate births?  I doubt it.  I believe that as a caring nation we must figure out how to break this cycle of poverty and crime and substance abuse etc, by helping people up, not kicking them when they are down.

Also from your blog Senator:

But the question still remains, “Is this a proper role for government?” 

If you believe it is right and fitting to require testing for any particular health situation, should we then require it for other conditions or issues? Assuming we should test in all circumstances for HIV/AIDS, perhaps one could argue the legislature should require testing by physicians of any patient for any other variety of issues. How about residual cocaine use? Marijuana? Alcohol? I’m certain some could argue such testing would achieve lofty and compelling societal objectives, enabling doctors, health care providers, and others to know when to prescribe or direct intervention efforts. Should we then share those required test results with Children’s Protective Services? With law enforcement? Insurance companies? Our banks and credit unions? How about requiring testing for other conditions? Pregnancy for any female regardless of age? For cholesterol problems? High blood pressure? DNA testing to create a database to clear any person of alleged crime, or identify perpetrators? Should we use the results of any test to deny health care to patients deemed undeserving under any proposed national health care scheme where rationing takes place because of resource limits?

The answer to your first question is yes.  We should be able to test new mothers and everyone for medical conditions.  It is time that we have quality affordable health care for each and every person in this country.  And while this is an issue for another arena, it is your party and your parties values that keep people with out health care.  Drug testing is already done on a grand scale in this country.  Sir if you feel that we should not be testing for HIV in pregnant mother, then you must believe that we don't need drug testing when a worker is injured on the job, because it is not governments responsibility, and there are privacy issues.  In response to your question about denying health care  based on test results shows the ludicrous nature of you argument.  The purpose  in having a national health care plan is to ensure that all Americans have quality health care.

Senator, while I understand how the sins of the parents pass on to the next generations, I don't believe it is a proper role for government to ensure that the children suffer from those sins.  I am willing to guess that you are against abortion, though I didn't bother to check, and yet you would hope for a baby to be born with HIV/AIDS so that the mother can suffer guilt.  Again, I am sure you are talking out of both sides of your mouth sir.  

I am now asking you to resign your position sir and to make a public apology.  You must either stand by your statement or take it back and apologize.

-- 
Jeremy Cook

XXX XXXX XXXX

Colorado Springs, CO XXXXX

XXX-XXX-XXXX

ravenlaughing@gmail.com 

Wodhof Urban Farmstead 

Decriminalize Common Sense 

"The cause of all our personal problems and nearly all the problems of the world can be summed up in a single sentence:

Human life is very deep, and our modern dominant lifestyle is not."

-Bo Lozoff

One can educate ignorance, but it is futile to argue with stupidity!