An Open Letter to Pelosi et al. from Pollack et al.

Over at The Treatment, Harold Pollack posts an open letter to House Democratic leaders, signed by 47 health policy experts, entreating them to pass the Senate health care bill:*

The House of Representatives faces a stark choice. It can enact the Senate bill, and realize the century-old dream of health care reform. By doing so, it can achieve a historic milestone while freeing itself to address other national problems such as joblessness and mortgage foreclosure that affect millions of Americans. Differences between the House and Senate bill can be negotiated through the reconciliation process.

Alternatively, Congress can abandon this effort at this critical moment, leaving millions more Americans to become uninsured in the coming years as health care becomes ever less affordable. Abandoning health care reform—the signature political issue of this administration—would send a message that Democrats are incapable of governing and lead to massive losses in the 2010 election, possibly even in 2012. Such a retreat would also abandon the chance to achieve reforms that millions of Americans across the political spectrum desperately need in these difficult times. Now is the moment for calm and resolute leadership, pressing on toward the goal now within sight.

PTFB.

*The best option for the Dems right now, as I argue in this post on Scott Brown's election and health care reform.

An Open Letter to Jane Swift

Dear Ms. Swift,

Shut up.

Your Truth Squad is silly,
MRhé

P.S. I'm so glad this is the political discourse of the day, and not nonissues like the economy, the energy crisis, and foreign policy!

An Open Letter to Mother Nature

Dear Mater Natura,

Um, wtf?



Not a fan. Please change your ways or I may have to find another metaphysical matriarch.

Regards,
MRhé

An Open Letter to MRhé

Dear MRhé,

Normally I would go on and on for lines extolling all your virtues - handsome, witty, charming, possessed of a robust intellect, etc. - but for now I will just emphasize one major item of note:

A drink with the boss after work is never just one drink.

Love,
MRhé

A Soldier's Declaration

The following letter was written by a soldier in combat to the powers that be back home:

I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it. I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that the war upon which I entered as a war of defence and liberation has now become a war of agression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them and that had this been done the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops and I can no longer be a party to prolonging these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust. I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now, I make this protest against the deception which is being practised upon them; also I believe it may help to destroy the callous complacency with which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share and which they have not have enough imagination to realise.

Sound at all familiar?

It was written by Lt. Siegfried Sassoon, 3rd Battaltion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in July of 1917. It was a statement to his commanding officer declining his return to duty. It was read aloud in the House of Commons and printed in the London Times the following day.

I'm just posting it here without any comment on my particular feelings toward the ongoing war in Iraq because as I read it I thought, "Wow, this could very well have been written today." (Save the last paragraph; I hardly think we are "complacent" back home.) I guess my point is, in part, that history repeats itself; that the full effect of current events is not realized until years, often decades hence; and that no matter what the era, conflict, or reasons for it, violence as national policy is an unfortunate (but sometimes necessary) evil.

Source: Wikipedia.org

An Open Letter to Eric Gagné

Dear Eric,

Your surname means "won" in French. Aren't you bilingual? Or are you just being playfully ironic? Your performance is causing severe intestinal distress to millions of people worldwide.

Either change your name to Perdu or stop acting like you're playing petanque out there on the mound.

Tues-toi,

-MRhé


(With apologies and a hat tip to Iain.)

An Open Letter to Eric Wedge

Dear Eric,

When you let Manny Ortez get on base 10 out of 10 times in a game, you don't stand a Canadian soldier's chance on a chilly October night of winning the ballgame.

Regards,

-MRhé

An Open Letter to Captain Dunndee

Dear Captain Dunndee,

I was just wondering, do any of the following types of whiskey make you frisky?

American
Canadian
Scotch
Bourbon
Tennessee
Moonshine
Japanese

Regards,

MRhé

An Open Letter to Mother Nature

Hi Ma,

This weekend's weather is lovely! So nice. A bit chilly early this morning but it has warmed up considerably. A great day to be at the ballpark (presumably; I won't go into that now). I'm happy that you have decided to forego the rain, wind and 40-degree days. Such a pleasant change! Keep on truckin' in this manner and you won't get any beef from this corner.

Heart,

-MRhé

An Open Letter to Mother Nature

Dear Mother Nature,

Enough. I know it's still early in the spring for New England, but really. Come on. Have a heart, mamacita. You tease us with a couple 60 degree days, and then you lay out a stretch of days in the 40s with winds that make it feel like it's 25 out. This ain't workin' for me anymore. I'm not asking for 70 off the bat; just stop the bluster, stop the chill. I don't want to wear the puffy coat anymore. Time for your warm embrace; save the coldhearted ish for next fall.

Kill yourself,

-MRhé

P.S. You are a vindictive tart.

An Open Letter to March

Dear March,

I noticed that it is going to be snowing over the next couple days, with temps in the 30s. This lack of sun and warmth following a 60+ day yesterday is just ridiculous. Please refrain.

Kill yourself,

MRhé

An Open Letter to Uncle Sam

How's it hangin' Unc,

I just did my taxes and realize that I owe you a ridiculous amount of money. How wonderful! I was just thinking the other day, "Wow, I made so much money last year; I wish I were legally compelled to shell out an enormous percentage of my income to the federal government come April 15th!" People talk about things like food, shelter, etc. - these are just the trappings of a life of luxury. Heaven forfend I should have enough money in the bank to spoil myself with groceries this month! To tack on an obscene obligatory expenditure to my already taxed (pun intended!) finances - I should like that of all things!

Kill yourself,

MRhé