All or none

In recent weeks the rolling disaster that is the Trump presidency has done some amazing things. They have pulled the US out of the Paris Accord, moved to open up new oil and gas drilling in areas formerly protected, continually denied climate change is real, moved to bolster the money that fossil fuel industries are making by undoing various environmental protections, etc.  The list goes on and on and reads like some sort of demented manifesto of a deranged Cheeto. Eh, OK so I guess that’s actually correct.

In light of this litany of environmental attacks, as well as concerns about keeping “TrumpCare” from being debated openly, I decided to send an email to my Texas senators.  That’s right kids, I tried to make contact with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.  In total I’ve made 3 attempts, two with Cornyn and one with Cruz.  Cornyn’s office, when I asked them to state if John believed man was responsible for climate change or not and did he or did he not support the US removing itself from the Paris Accord, his office responded with the following:

Dear Mr. J:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the 2015 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this issue.

As you may know, Secretary Kerry attended the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference and signed an international agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, emission targets and other components included within the agreement are not legally binding. I share your concerns regarding the implications of this agreement, and I believe that any effort to control greenhouse gas emissions should not place the United States at a global economic disadvantage or penalize American families and workers. It is imperative for the United States to carefully scrutinize all UN actions to determine whether they are consistent with our national interests. I will only support policies that protect our citizens and respect our sovereignty—regardless of whether the UN agrees.

I welcome an open debate on policies to protect our environment. I support efforts to improve our nation's environmental quality, and I believe regulations should be based on the best available science and risk-based standards. I strongly believe that innovation and technological advances in traditional and alternative sources of energy will ultimately address our nation's challenges more effectively than onerous government regulation.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texas in the United States Senate, and I will continue to support policies that ensure economic viability while protecting public health. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN

United States Senator

I’ve read the response several times, and unless I’m brain-dead, I don’t actually see an answer to either of the questions I asked.  Next, I sent emails to Cornyn and Cruz informing them that no legislation that effects so many people, i.e. TrumpCare, should be free from public debate.  I called both of them out on their supposedly Christian and honesty values.  I asked under what mandate did they feel they were representing the majority of Texans, and what their end game was in this bill.  I also pointed out that both of them were supposedly on the Team of 13 drafting the bill, so I wouldn’t accept an “I don’t know what’s in it” response.  Needless to say, my email box waits patiently for a response.

Long story short, it’s obvious that the GOP is only concerned with lining their pockets, at any cost to the rest of the world, and country.  As you know, I’m in the 3^rd party group thinking, that the two-party system is flat ass broken.  More and more I think that’s the case.  I’ve decided that one of the fundamental reasons its broke is because no one wants to compromise.  The mentality of “all or none” is dragging this country down, and fast.  Beyond that the bigger problem is basic human greed.  It’s all about the money, who has it and who doesn’t.  I’m hopeful that the standard short American attention span hasn’t kicked in by the next election cycle. 

We all need to remember the events of this recent election.  The big money that is benefiting on the blood of the average American.  Regardless of your party affiliation, try to find and support candidates who are not at either extreme end of the party.  The folks with those extreme ideologies have proven time and time again that they can’t be trusted with the people’s work.  Period.

Keep resisting, keep calling and emailing your elected officials.  Now more than ever volunteer, do good things and try to be kind to your neighbors and fellow humans.  We normal, everyday citizens, need to show one another respect and dignity; it’s obvious the majority of the elected officials can’t be bothered by such trivial things.

Until next time -

UPDATE: 6-30-17; Still no response from Cornyn or Cruz.  Guess I'll have to send a certified letter this time!