comments on passing 100,000 dead...

The number 100,000 has mystical aspects for our culture (and probably all western culture). This holy number is usually observed and commemorated upon.

We have gone over 100,000 dead.

This demands our President go on all TV channels at 8 pm and announce this horrible figure, this horrible “milestone”. His speech must broadcast grief and sympathy. Yet, after the initial shot of grief, it must express hope and faith and the need for all of us to come together.

I recall “W” gave some damn fine speeches. I recall Obama gave some damn fine speeches as well as Clinton and Carter. If only we had a President who could take up the torch but we don’t.

We have Donald John Trump.

I can not believe him if he were to try expressing sympathy and hope. (I don’t think he feels these emotions).

I don’t think he can fake it.

We deserve better!

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Vice President Joe Biden just gave a wonderful eulogy  that was very moving.
It was very presidential!

Save the USPS (letter of 9 May 2020)

You must protect and save the United States Postal Service!

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 7 reads:

          “To establish Post Offices and post Roads;” 

A logical corollary is Post Offices must be maintained (i.e. fully funded). Please see to it the USPS is fully funded!

Consider how many Kansans depend on

1. Medicines and medical devices from the VA (I am one!),
2. Prescription medicines by mail (I can afford two prescriptions since I buy them from CVS Mail order. They are much more expensive bought locally.)
3. Many receive magazines, books and other materials via mail. After Hastings went out of business, there simply have been no book or music stores in Dodge City.
4. Many people still depend on letters, cards and packages from kinfolk and friends. Pictures of family and family events are more real than emailed pictures.

Reasons I’ve read or heard on the news for letting the USPS go out of business:

1. President Trump has a vendetta with Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon. If the USPS fails then Amazon would fail as postage would be too expensive.
2. Senator McConnell wants the USPS to fail. You work for the People of Kansas and not for a Senator from Kentucky.
3. President Trump wants the USPS to fail. You, as a member of Congress are independent of the Executive Branch. I respectfully remind you that you work for the People of Kansas and not the President.
4. I’ve read that if the USPS fails, it would be “privatized” and service in Kansas, especially Western Kansas (i.e. Dodge City) would be hit with “location surcharges”. Many Kansans would be hurt by this!

The deficit has ballooned beyond belief. I remind you the Social Security Fund was not set up to be a slush fund. Do not allow money to be stolen from the SSF. Allow this theft and many of us will remember in 4 years and in 6 years.

This also means maintain the Payroll tax. The idea that removing the Payroll tax to give the people a little more money merely means that will have higher tax bills. I can’t tell if this idea is Casuistry.

Respectfully,

Michael W. Bell

P.S.: The news said a close ally of President Trump was appointed Head of the USPS.  This sounds too dangerous to the USPS to be allowed!

After I emailed Dr. Marshall, Senator Moran and Senator Roberts, I remembered something:

If the USPS is destroyed, the Elderly, College Students and Democrats will not be able to vote by email. This could tilt the election to Trump and would be Voter Suppression.

May Day letter to congress critters about saving the USPS

May Day 2020

Dear Dr. Marsh  Senator Moran Senator Roberts

Once again, I am moved to write you in hope that you will prevent  a disaster.

The US Constitution ,Article 1, Section 8, Clause 7 reads in part: “To establish Post Offices and post Roads;”

It is implied the Congress must maintain the Post offices.

The USPS is essential to the health of our economy. Given the impact of the corid-19, it would make sense to maintain our economy If the USPS is allowed to fail, then many business will also fail. Some examples:

1. I have service connected disabilities and receive medications and needed diabetic test equipment from the VA. There are a number of veterans who main medical provider is the VA. It the USPS is degraded or destroyed then vulnerable veterans will be harmed.
2. There are items I receive by mail order from Wichita as said items are not sold in Dodge City. Killing the USPS could put these business out of business. (I pay Sedgwick county sales taxes on items bought in Wichita.)
3. I realize there is a belief that email can handle personal mail. I think a paper birthday card or sympathy card or Thank You card has a level of intimate emotional connection that email lacks. It takes time and effort and a bit of money to prepare and send a card. I have gotten “Thank you emails” which lead me to believe the originator spent more time in addressing the email than what was spent in drafting the text.
4. Alternatives to the USPS are more expensive and often much more expensive. There are many who can not afford the additional costs!

Finally, I point out that while the US Constitution requires maintenance of Post Offices, there is no requirement to give tax money to very rich men and very rich corporations. If my income taxes can go to billionaires then my taxes can go to the USPS. The USPS at least gives me good service in return.

I respectfully submit that keeping the USPS financially healthy is going to be crucial to the restoration of our economy.  Funding stock buy backs is not important.

Finally, I remind you that you swore to “protect and defend” the Constitution of the United States. Protect and defend the USPS and you will be exercising this oath.

Respectfully,

Michael W. Bell

P.S. I expect you to protect the Social Security Fund from the spendthrifts in the Administration. The Social Security Fund is not a slush fund!