Today I started my letter writing campaign. It is important that we be very clear what we are about - even if we’re clear about lots of different things. What do you want to say to the world?

This is the letter I sent to Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray and Rick Larsen today –

“I am a strong supporter of the Occupy movement. My husband and I are in our early 60’s, have been married for 43 years and have been blessed with 3 children and 6 grandchildren. We are also homeowners and landlords. For all the years of our marriage, we have been taxpayers and voters.

The following have prompted my support for the Occupy movement:
1. The close ties between large corporate interests and politicians.
2. Our ridiculously long and costly election cycle.
3. Bailouts given to banks and investment firms without any restructuring being required or regulation being imposed.
4. The apparent lack of concern in Congress for the preservation of our social safety net.

My hope is that the discomfort caused by the Occupy movement will lead to meaningful corporate regulation and the disconnection of politicians from the tap of corporate money. It seems that the impact of my individual vote is diluted by that money. Specifically, I’d like to see:
1. The Congress enact campaign finance reform to end the possibility of corporations and unions buying influence in Congress. There should be no allowance for donations by either corporations or unions.
2. The amount of personal money spent by a politician seeking election should be capped at a small amount ($5000), so that the non-wealthy can also participate in the system if they choose to. And individual contributions to political campaigns should also be capped at a small amount ($1000/person). Let’s not continue to spend billions each election cycle.
3. A much shorter campaign cycle. Two years of campaigning out of each four year term is excessive, in my opinion. Please stay on the task of governing - your actions will either recommend you for re-election or send you home.
4. The end of Senators and Representatives going to work for the corporations, whose interests they have represented in Congress, when their term in office is complete. This has fostered a culture of corruption and needs to stop.

Once, the flow of money to buy influence is stopped, I believe we’d be more likely to see proper regulation of banks and investment firms. When Goldman Sachs, et al, were bailed out and not required to accept regulation to prevent further speculation and cheating, I was disgusted. And, to see their executives continuing to receive obscenely large salaries and bonuses, even as they’ve lost money for their small investors, well, I’m infuriated. Please don’t ever let that happen again!

Our national social safety net is one of the hallmarks of the greatness and generosity of the American system. We, as a nation, have only lately been such fans of unrestrained capitalism that we are willing to throw the poor under the bus. Please use all your wisdom and compassion as you consider which programs to fund to support the poor members of our society.”

Sincerely,
Deb Steinkamp