A Letter to Congress

This is the text of a letter I sent to my Congressman and Senator recently. I thought I would share it here. I am also sending it into some local papers, but it is probably too long to be published there.

The question of whether George W. Bush has committed high crimes or misdemeanors is one that must be answered for the health and stability of America. It is the legal and moral imperative of Congress to hold the executive branch in check. In order to do that you must investigate and if your investigations find evidence then you must prosecute.

The pardon of Richard Nixon was one of the most devastating blows to the trust the people have in the American government to function fairly and justly. The ease with which Congress gave up investigations into Iran-Contra was another, arguably lesser, blow to our nation. That kind of thing must not happen again. Another such blow to the fabric of the social contract between the government and the governed, and that contract might just shatter.

In order to maintain the trust of the people and therefore the mandate to govern, the people must know that everyone is accountable to the law, especially those at the highest levels. We can see on television every night that those at the lowest levels cannot escape the law. That imbalance is not lost on the average citizen of this country.

Our nation is hurting.

We are bleeding liberty while cynicism and apathy infect our culture.

Something needs to be done.

This is not the time to be politically cautious.

This is the time to be a true patriot.

This is the time to be an idealist of the highest order, in the manner of the Jefferson, Madison or Adams.

Do not fail your country in this, our hour of need.