Dear Attorney General Madigan

The following is a letter I have sent to the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in reference to the Health Care Reform bill. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to contact her as well:

Attorney General Madigan,
You have always seemed to be a person who fights for the people of the state. I think you are doing a great job, and have stepped up to the plate when we needed you most. I have sat back for the last few weeks waiting for you to once again protect us from unlawful acts. As of yet, you have made no action, and I know you will not be. You have stood before the press and stated firmly that you will not be joining the other states to block the enforcement of the bill in Illinois. Although I doubt I can change your mind, I am going to try none the less. I will not argue the fact that reform to America's health care system is needed. But the changes coming are not the right ones, and I think you know it. Just because President Obama is from this state, does not mean we have to stand behind him on every issue. To open the debate, the bill is unconstitutional. As a lawyer, I am sure you are aware of this. The 10th Amendment states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The reforms in the bill violate the peoples' rights by imposing a new mandate on individuals to obtain health insurance or face a penalty and imposing on the states new costs by expanding Medicaid, which is a federal-state program. Now granted, people are forced to purchase auto insurance, but that is imposed by states, not the feds and you can opt out of the car insurance if you opt out of having a driver’s license. I am not forced to have auto insurance unless I want to drive. I want to live; does that mean I am required to have health insurance? Also let us not forget that our state, thanks to the past two Governors is in dire straits. We are facing a $13 billion deficit this fiscal year alone. The state can't pay the bills as it is. How are the people of Illinois going to afford this new mandate? The fact is, we can't. I know that no person can put a price on another life. Like I said, we do need reform, but it has to be better planned out, and not violate the rights of the people. Remember, you work for the people. We do not work for you. If it is found that a majority of the voters of our great state do not want this bill. Then you must place your personal ideology aside, and do what is right. Thank you for your time and consideration.

David Bourne,
americarebourne.blogspot.com

Opportunity Knocking

The Republican party is in trouble, and they probably are too blind too see it. The leaders of the party feel that they are doing right, and will will the country back thanks to Obamacare. As much as I hope for this to be true, I feel that it will not be. The party, just like the Democrats, are no longer in touch with the American people. This is no longer the country of our fathers, and views have changed. Conservative voters find themselves a little liberal on issues that the party denounces. And being the "Party of No" has not been good publicity for a party still scarred by the Bush/Cheney era. When the next generation of conservatives try to get involved, they are shunned by the leaders for people already in the party. Another case of politics as usual. If the party expects to regain the support of the people, reform is needed. Instead of always saying no, and sticking to the people in the party that have already damaged the conservatives, new ideas and people need to be presented. Everyone wants health care reform, just not the one Obama pushed through. With the problems arising in the local, state, and federal levels, the Republicans are in an ideal spot to regain some control. But without change, the days of King George Ryan and Dubya will just be replayed. Get new people involved, and make the right changes needed to bring the party back in touch with how people think today.