FREE SPEECH ZONE | Congressional Democrats: Do Your Job!

Angry Minnesotans gathered on a frigid January day to thank Senator Al Franken and 5th CD Congressman Keith Ellison for their past support on health care issues and to plead with them to wake up the rest of the Democratic members of Congress. Since spine transplants seem out of the question, the people ask our representatives to stand up to the lobbying money flowing neck deep in Washington and act in the interests of American citizens.

Congress seems dedicated to acting as the WalMart of legislation; cut prices on all special interest bills. We have one senator, Shelby of Alabama, blocking all presidential appointments to force more pork for his state. Now thanks to the Supremes, corporations can participate freely in the bidding for self-serving gravy train bills.

Sadly, campaign finance reform seems as impossible as spine transplants for the Democrats cowering in the shadows of Capitol pillars.

Since our votes seem to have been sold for discount prices, all we have is our feet and voices. Thus the demonstrations organized by MoveOn,  TakeAction, Bold Progressives plus, several unions other activist groups.

We realize we can't move immediately to the ideal system the rest of the civilized world enjoys, universal coverage, single payer. But we do want progress and are going to keep on making noise until we actually progress.

Bill Sorem