A Review of Rep. Dave Camp's (R-MI) "Week In Review"

I've had it with politicians and other people in the spot light who think they can mislead the people with fear and do so with impunity.

It is important that ALL politicians and public servants present facts to the American people. You wouldn't think that needs to be said; however, in today's political climate of "anything goes", it definitely needs to be said. In fact, it is the reason for having decieded to write this particular article in the first place.

You see, I have a representative that insists on distorting facts, making false claims and simply presenting misinformation - to what end, one can only guess, but my money is on returning his political party to power. I'm not interested in power games, I want truth and policy based on facts, not fear inducing fantasies.

In the spirit of dealing with my frustration with this situation in a constructive and civil manner, a link to the original "Week In Review" from Rep. Dave Camp is included here.

Lets talk about jobs. First off, stating that the unemployment level is 30% higher "than the Obama administration promised" is simply flat out wrong. The Obama administration never promised that unemployment would remain at any level. To say that the unemployment level is 30% higher than the administration's projections or estimates is fair, honest and not misleading in any way. And yes, saying he broke a promise (that was never made) is misleading.

When viewing the complete article, the original graph used by the administration is included with some modification. The title of the graph is "Democratic Projection of Unemployment Rate with Stimulas . . ." Now I ask you, is a projection the same as a promise?

America is having its fair share of troubles these days and therefore, more than ever, Americans need honest, fact based political discourse on the issues related to our economy and to our lives. What we need least of all is the intentional use of fear as outlined in the GOP Fund raising Guide for the 2010 elections .

So what is this government take over of health care? Neither bill suggests that the government seize all the buildings related to the health care system. Neither bill suggests that all doctors, nurses and other health care professionals become federal employees. Neither bill suggests eliminating private health care insurance. All three of these things would need to occur in order for the government to "take over" health care. In fact, few elements of either bill deals with health care directly. The vast an overwhelming number of changes the bills make are related to heath care insurance. For example, they eliminate being denied insurance for pre-existing conditions. The reality is that neither bill is a government take over of health care, nor a government take over of the health care insurance industry.

In this group, we see that for some reason, the GOP has decided that "using the nuclear option" doesn't mean what it has meant for decades: the leader of the senate declares that the rules of the senate are null and void because they were passes in a previous congress and therefore the only rules that apply are those found in the constitution, i.e. simple majority vote on legislation. Reconciliation is NOT the nuclear option. 

Perhaps the GOP is planning to use the real nuclear option if they should some day retake control of the senate and are "prepping" the citizens for it by making us think it means something other than what it means? At any rate, for my rep to be misusing the term tells me A) He isn't as informed about the senate as he needs to be; or B) He is intentionally misleading his constituents for some unknown reason in step with the rest of the GOP. Rep. Camp writes on his web site "“I am disappointed that Democrats are moving ahead with the nuclear option." - This is completely false.

I've had it with statements that are intentionally misleading or are indicitive of an ignorant politician. Either way, I can't support a politician that relies upon his or her own facts. Opinion is one thing - an honest disagreement about the substance of policy is one thing, but to actively engage in spreading fear to regain control of our government rather than working toward resolving the problems we have is right out.

That is why I've joined the Mid-Michigan chapter of the Coffee Party... I want honest government working to solve America's problems.