I Support Barack Obama For President
Dear Mr. Romney, September 19, 2012
I am writing this letter in regards to the recent exposure of your comments made during your campaign. I would like to address the horribly offensive and inaccurate comments you made during your fundraising speech in May. There are so many closed minded, arrogant and upsetting points that I would like to cover, that it is hard to know where to begin!
First off, let me inform you that until your highly arrogant remarks where made public, I was an undecided voter. While I am technically a registered Democrat, up until recently I was very open to hearing some of your ideas and policies. I believe in giving credit were it is due and agree that you have been very successful in your personal and professional endeavors. It was because of this, that I had been willing to consider you as a serious candidate for my vote.
I should also make you aware of the fact that I am personally a recipient of many government funded programs including Medicaid and Food Stamps. I am NOT a victim. I am a human being. I am gainfully employed. I am educated. I am a mother, a student and a citizen. I pay my taxes and have done so since I was 18 years old and joined the workforce. I have never, I repeat NEVER, believed myself to be “entitled” to any of these programs or assistance. NEVER. I am, however, incredibly GRATEFUL and BLESSED to live in a country where I am able to ask for help from my government and fellow citizens, during a time that it is greatly needed. I am grateful, on a daily basis, for these programs because they are what are keeping myself and my little family afloat right now.
To hear someone who is in a position of potentially leading our country, so blatantly and ignorantly group me into a stereo type of believing that I am a “victim” or “entitled” is infuriating. How dare you sir?
While I am gainfully employed, my income is much smaller than yours (and most of your friends I suspect). My employer simply does not offer any kind of medical benefits. They are too small to do so. Because the cost of living is so high (and has been gradually building for SEVERAL years before President Obama came into office) there is simply NO feasible way that I could afford private health insurance. To add serious insult to injury… Even if I COULD afford the outrageous premiums, deductibles and co-pays… I would be (and have been) rejected because I have a pre-existing condition and history of cancer. It doesn't seem to matter to the insurance companies that my cancer has been in remission since I was 13 years old. That’s right. 13 YEARS OLD! ( I am now well into my 30’s by the way.) Every private insurance company that I have applied to has denied me, although my cancer is in remission and my other pre-existing condition is fully and easily manageable. Thus, for the sake of being able to ensure my own health and the health of my children, I applied for (and was accepted) to Medicaid. I am GRATEFUL. Not entitled. Please explain to me in what realm of human decency is it acceptable that I should be denied proper health coverage because I had a curable form of cancer when I was 12 and 13 years old?
Additionally, if it was not for the small but critical Food Stamp benefits that my family and I receive, I’m not sure HOW we would put food on the table. We have a very limited income, lead a very modest lifestyle and can barely scrape by month to month. We, as citizens of the most powerful and richest country of the world, are on a paycheck to paycheck budget and every month are dangerously close to having to decide between feeding our children or having the utilities shut off. I have NEVER believed myself to be entitled to these benefits. But I am sure as hell grateful when I check that balance at the beginning of each month and know that I can sleep at night knowing that my children are fed for the next 30 days.
It is because of these programs, that you so clearly despise, that we are able to survive for the time being, function as constructive members of society and slowly get back on our feet. And one day soon, when we as a family, are solidly on our feet again we will GLADLY turn around and help the next person up on to their feet. THAT is how a compassionate, balanced and healthy society works. It’s not rocket science.
Yes, there are those who take advantage of the system. However, do we as a society cut off those who are truly utilizing these programs for the purposes they are meant, simply to spite the advantage takers? Or do we continue to assist those who are clearly following the rules, growing stronger, educating themselves and working hard to be constructive members of society? Yes, the system is flawed. That is inevitable because PEOPLE are flawed and the system is run by people, no? But the core of its intents, the long-term purpose of its desired outcome, is not wrong nor does it deserve to be abandoned.
Finally, I should also explain that I consider myself a reformed Republican. Yes, it’s true. I was raised in a very wealthy family. I was afforded the best education, nice homes, international travel and living and all the medical care that I could have possibly needed. (Which was a blessing since having childhood cancer is neither fun nor cheap!) I never had to worry about having enough food, the cost of my clothing and certainly not about ever ending up homeless. My Senior year of High School, I was in an advanced Government and Civics class and our major project for the year was to take the national deficit and re-budget it in a way to potentially take our nation out of debt. I, in my arrogance and judgmental manner (much like you are displaying now), came up with a really quick and easy solution: “Cut out welfare. Cut out Medicaid, Food Stamps and even Medicare.” This was the ignorant simplicity that I had been raised with. “Why should I have to pay for their laziness and incompetence? It’s not MY fault that they are too lazy or stupid to get their lives together, so why should I have to pay for them to sit on their *****?” Little did I know, that I myself would end up relying on those exact government programs to provide for my own children! I never imagined it.
I was ignorant.
I was judgmental.
I was lacking grace and compassion.
I only cared about myself and did not see the value in helping those less fortunate than myself, because it was easier to write them off and assume the worst about them. Investing in those who were less fortunate than myself was bad for business and I was looking at numbers... not people.
You are doing the exact same thing.
Shortly after graduating High School, I married my High School sweetheart and was attending college. We very quickly became parents, and though I was working and going to college, I was no longer under my parent's umbrella of safety. I had no insurance and was scared to death. Luckily, I was able to qualify for Medicaid and was able to receive the pre-natal care that I needed. I was able to deliver a healthy baby and make sure that she had the medical care she needed for the first year of life.
I was 19 years old when I got a harsh slap of reality in the face and a true lesson in humility. How old will you be?
I realize that you are a very busy and important self-righteous man and clearly my opinion is of no value to you. After all… because I have needed to assistance of my government, I am clearly not interested in “taking responsibility or caring for my life”. (By the way, as I complete my PhD, I plan on writing an extensive paper on the connection between arrogance and wealth and the negative impact it has on our society. Thank you for the inspiration and I will most certainly be quoting you and your obvious disdain for the 47% in my writings.)
In closing, let me just thank you for helping me make up my mind about who I will be voting for in this election. While you may be “business savvy”, your arrogance, judgmental and ignorant behavior has confirmed the fact that you are the last person that I would want to represent me or my country. Since it is not your “job” to worry about people like me, it will not be my “job” to vote for you come November. I sincerely hope, from the bottom of my “victimized” heart, that you lose this election.
Sincerely,
MJF
United States Citizen
I am writing this letter in regards to the recent exposure of your comments made during your campaign. I would like to address the horribly offensive and inaccurate comments you made during your fundraising speech in May. There are so many closed minded, arrogant and upsetting points that I would like to cover, that it is hard to know where to begin!
First off, let me inform you that until your highly arrogant remarks where made public, I was an undecided voter. While I am technically a registered Democrat, up until recently I was very open to hearing some of your ideas and policies. I believe in giving credit were it is due and agree that you have been very successful in your personal and professional endeavors. It was because of this, that I had been willing to consider you as a serious candidate for my vote.
I should also make you aware of the fact that I am personally a recipient of many government funded programs including Medicaid and Food Stamps. I am NOT a victim. I am a human being. I am gainfully employed. I am educated. I am a mother, a student and a citizen. I pay my taxes and have done so since I was 18 years old and joined the workforce. I have never, I repeat NEVER, believed myself to be “entitled” to any of these programs or assistance. NEVER. I am, however, incredibly GRATEFUL and BLESSED to live in a country where I am able to ask for help from my government and fellow citizens, during a time that it is greatly needed. I am grateful, on a daily basis, for these programs because they are what are keeping myself and my little family afloat right now.
To hear someone who is in a position of potentially leading our country, so blatantly and ignorantly group me into a stereo type of believing that I am a “victim” or “entitled” is infuriating. How dare you sir?
While I am gainfully employed, my income is much smaller than yours (and most of your friends I suspect). My employer simply does not offer any kind of medical benefits. They are too small to do so. Because the cost of living is so high (and has been gradually building for SEVERAL years before President Obama came into office) there is simply NO feasible way that I could afford private health insurance. To add serious insult to injury… Even if I COULD afford the outrageous premiums, deductibles and co-pays… I would be (and have been) rejected because I have a pre-existing condition and history of cancer. It doesn't seem to matter to the insurance companies that my cancer has been in remission since I was 13 years old. That’s right. 13 YEARS OLD! ( I am now well into my 30’s by the way.) Every private insurance company that I have applied to has denied me, although my cancer is in remission and my other pre-existing condition is fully and easily manageable. Thus, for the sake of being able to ensure my own health and the health of my children, I applied for (and was accepted) to Medicaid. I am GRATEFUL. Not entitled. Please explain to me in what realm of human decency is it acceptable that I should be denied proper health coverage because I had a curable form of cancer when I was 12 and 13 years old?
Additionally, if it was not for the small but critical Food Stamp benefits that my family and I receive, I’m not sure HOW we would put food on the table. We have a very limited income, lead a very modest lifestyle and can barely scrape by month to month. We, as citizens of the most powerful and richest country of the world, are on a paycheck to paycheck budget and every month are dangerously close to having to decide between feeding our children or having the utilities shut off. I have NEVER believed myself to be entitled to these benefits. But I am sure as hell grateful when I check that balance at the beginning of each month and know that I can sleep at night knowing that my children are fed for the next 30 days.
It is because of these programs, that you so clearly despise, that we are able to survive for the time being, function as constructive members of society and slowly get back on our feet. And one day soon, when we as a family, are solidly on our feet again we will GLADLY turn around and help the next person up on to their feet. THAT is how a compassionate, balanced and healthy society works. It’s not rocket science.
Yes, there are those who take advantage of the system. However, do we as a society cut off those who are truly utilizing these programs for the purposes they are meant, simply to spite the advantage takers? Or do we continue to assist those who are clearly following the rules, growing stronger, educating themselves and working hard to be constructive members of society? Yes, the system is flawed. That is inevitable because PEOPLE are flawed and the system is run by people, no? But the core of its intents, the long-term purpose of its desired outcome, is not wrong nor does it deserve to be abandoned.
Finally, I should also explain that I consider myself a reformed Republican. Yes, it’s true. I was raised in a very wealthy family. I was afforded the best education, nice homes, international travel and living and all the medical care that I could have possibly needed. (Which was a blessing since having childhood cancer is neither fun nor cheap!) I never had to worry about having enough food, the cost of my clothing and certainly not about ever ending up homeless. My Senior year of High School, I was in an advanced Government and Civics class and our major project for the year was to take the national deficit and re-budget it in a way to potentially take our nation out of debt. I, in my arrogance and judgmental manner (much like you are displaying now), came up with a really quick and easy solution: “Cut out welfare. Cut out Medicaid, Food Stamps and even Medicare.” This was the ignorant simplicity that I had been raised with. “Why should I have to pay for their laziness and incompetence? It’s not MY fault that they are too lazy or stupid to get their lives together, so why should I have to pay for them to sit on their *****?” Little did I know, that I myself would end up relying on those exact government programs to provide for my own children! I never imagined it.
I was ignorant.
I was judgmental.
I was lacking grace and compassion.
I only cared about myself and did not see the value in helping those less fortunate than myself, because it was easier to write them off and assume the worst about them. Investing in those who were less fortunate than myself was bad for business and I was looking at numbers... not people.
You are doing the exact same thing.
Shortly after graduating High School, I married my High School sweetheart and was attending college. We very quickly became parents, and though I was working and going to college, I was no longer under my parent's umbrella of safety. I had no insurance and was scared to death. Luckily, I was able to qualify for Medicaid and was able to receive the pre-natal care that I needed. I was able to deliver a healthy baby and make sure that she had the medical care she needed for the first year of life.
I was 19 years old when I got a harsh slap of reality in the face and a true lesson in humility. How old will you be?
I realize that you are a very busy and important self-righteous man and clearly my opinion is of no value to you. After all… because I have needed to assistance of my government, I am clearly not interested in “taking responsibility or caring for my life”. (By the way, as I complete my PhD, I plan on writing an extensive paper on the connection between arrogance and wealth and the negative impact it has on our society. Thank you for the inspiration and I will most certainly be quoting you and your obvious disdain for the 47% in my writings.)
In closing, let me just thank you for helping me make up my mind about who I will be voting for in this election. While you may be “business savvy”, your arrogance, judgmental and ignorant behavior has confirmed the fact that you are the last person that I would want to represent me or my country. Since it is not your “job” to worry about people like me, it will not be my “job” to vote for you come November. I sincerely hope, from the bottom of my “victimized” heart, that you lose this election.
Sincerely,
MJF
United States Citizen
By:
tomrbad321
Age:
31-35
,
Female
71
responses
