A letter to the people who may have forgotten who they represent

January 24, 2017

Dear Senator Somebody and Congressman Whoever:

My wife and I are living in fear every day, and we’re looking to you for help.

A little background: People who are not wealthy have to make financial decisions in their lives based on established norms. For example, if I choose to retire or am otherwise unable to work, would I be able to afford food, lodging, heat and light, medications to treat my illnesses and health insurance to cover my medical care?

These are basic necessities, not extravagances. This scenario does not consider money for vacations, luxury purchases, major home repairs or even new cars to replace ones I currently own that are 14 and 18 years old, respectively.

My wife and I made such decisions based on these established norms:

* In retirement, we would receive Social Security benefits that we had been paying to the government all of our working lives. This was our money that was promised to us when we reached the age of eligibility, and it certainly seemed reasonable to factor it into our budget.

* At age 65, we would each be eligible for Medicare to cover our medical expenses. Until that time, my wife, who is 63, would be eligible for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act by paying a reasonable premium subsidized by the federal government.

We were comfortable with this lifestyle and willing to sacrifice vacations, new cars and expensive extras for the relative safety and security of our simple lives. We didn’t need to be wealthy to be happy.

Now we live in fear because the Republican-controlled Congress wants to take away our health insurance under the ACA and, reportedly, is targeting our Medicare and Social Security benefits as well. 

How can you, as a human being, allow this to happen to honest, decent, law-abiding citizens whose only “crimes” are living to a certain age and not being in perfect health?

Why would you or any member of Congress who expects to ever be re-elected want to destroy the lives of tens of millions of Americans who were told they could depend on Social Security and Medicare in their retirement years?

Do you think we sent you to Congress to take away our livelihood? Is your party platform really more important to you than what’s good for your country or the people who live in it? Are you that deep in the pockets of your special interest donors or do you just not care?

I sincerely implore you to think beyond yourself and the greedy agenda of Congressional Leadership and vote your conscience for the people who put you in office. Do not vote to repeal the ACA without a suitable replacement and do not take Medicare and Social Security away from the people who earned it and who depend on it for their very lives.

Show us you haven't forgotten how representative government works.

Sincerely,

Scott Shields

Citizen and voter