[Vhfcn-l] Statement

[VHFCN1 Pilots and Crew]

I avoid controversy in general, certainly in my weekly Monday musings
posting. I know what I believe and do not think it my job or mission to
proselytize or promote. 

 

But I think things are beyond serious now in this country, headed for real
trouble.

 

Last year I sent a letter to my state and federal elected representatives
that I have copied below. It definitely places me politically, but it also
highlights the dangers I worry about, and I believe those dangers are real
whether you lean conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat.

 

That little or nothing has changed since I wrote this a little over a year
ago now only underlines my concerns, and what has happened since
categorically only worsens those concerns. I do not expect you to agree with
me on all this, but please, please take seriously the erosion of so much
that is the real issue.

 

Thank you,

 

Gary Thewlis

 

>From July 2018:

 

We used to be the good guys. 

 

That is gone, gone for a generation or two at minimum if things change
rapidly and we as a country hold to those values squandered and re-establish
the trust lost. If not gone for good. My apologies to
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Burdick> Eugene Burdick and
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lederer> William Lederer for ever
considering them extreme in their characterizations in The Ugly American.
Even they had no idea.

 

Rule of law must be paramount if we are to keep our identity as a country.
Help ensure Robert Mueller is allowed to do and complete his job.  He is
doing it by the book without hyperbole, and that work is critical to our
nation's future.

 

My generation grew up and lived with Medicare. We count on it and we planned
our retirement years with it as part of the foundation of those years. I
will not say no changes will be needed, but I do not want see the promises
of Medicare discarded like trade agreements of late. One thing I will say -
no privatization! Leave it a government function and responsibility,
otherwise it will be a near term future casualty of raiding and malfeasance.
Count on it. 

 

And, shocking as every day tends to be, less attention should be paid to the
man in front of the curtains and more to those behind them. A constant and
compelling distraction, day to day legislative actions seem to pass without
notice. The deficit? Unbelievable. The gutting of environmental safeguards?
The changes to undermine collective bargaining rights? Of consumer
protection rights? The pure purchase of our elected officials by powerful
interests no longer even trying to pretend otherwise?

 

Fake news? Yes, of course. Even has its own network in FOX. But news no
longer applies, the term should be marketing as that is what is being done.
Deny, deny, deny, and repeat loudly and often. 

 

The mid-term elections are crucial.  Yes, I believe many if not most
Democrats are as involved with interest groups and money as Republicans, but
the balance to halt or even slow the changes now going on is critical. I
wonder if our country can survive even another two years with Republican
control of all 3 branches and with that demagogue in the White House.

 

And finally, the treatment of families at the borders as less than human?
The treatment of their children?  Who the HELL are we anymore? Regardless of
feelings on immigration and impact on our country, the separation of parents
and children is a moral issue first, distinct and apart from legalities of
citizenship. Those who implemented this policy and those complicit by
supporting or remaining neutral are not worthy of respect and certainly not
of office.

 

You are one of my elected officials. No politician represents all of their
electorate's wishes, not possible. I do ask you to reflect on sanity,
personal and political, local, national and global, and then to at least try
and stem the evident dismantling and dismemberment of our democracy and our
culture.