An Open Letter to Congress

Dear United States Congress:

Please stop screwing around. Please.

Stop playing political brinksmanship with the lives of ordinary Americans. This is really simple: we need to extend the payroll tax cut set to expire at the end of the year, and we need to extend long-term unemployment benefits. Over nine percent of us are unemployed. A great many more are struggling to make ends meet despite having a job. We need help.

It doesn't matter whose fault it is. It doesn't matter if Republican deregulation of business caused the financial meltdown or if the Obama stimulus program was a bad idea or a failure. What matters is Americans of every political stripe are hurting and need your help. They need to keep their payroll taxes low, so they have enough money to get themselves back on firm financial footing. They need unemployment insurance while they look for work in a rough economy that is recovering at a sluggish pace.

So quiit screwing around and just pass it. Stop attaching things to the bill you know the other guy won't like. Drop the provisions on the Keystone Pipeline. Quit talking about taxing the rich. Just write a quick bill that ONLY extends the payroll tax cut and unemployment. No partisan wedge issues attached. Then vote for it and send it to the president for his signature.

Real people's lives are at stake. Your gamesmanship is not only unethical, it is destestable and inhuman. Is it any wonder your approval ratings are at all-time lows?

For God's sake, it's Christmastime. Go down to Walmart, buy yourself some basic human compassion, and use it. This is the time of the year we're supposed to put aside our differences and embrace our fellow human beings for the simple reason that it's the right thing to do.

So, please, stop screwing around. Just pass a bill that extends benefits millions of Americans desperately need. Then go home and see your families for the holidays. You can go back to fighting next year.

Sincerely,

John R. Phythyon, Jr.

Taxpayer, Voter, Proud American