To the Editor:

Sometimes you get frustrated with your face. It just doesn’t look the way you want it to look. It just doesn’t get you the things you want. You feel spiteful and angry. But cutting off your nose never makes things better.

In today’s economic climate we hear a lot about how angry people are –- angry with congress, angry with vested interests, angry with the powers that be, because whether or not the recession is over, there are too many people without jobs; there are too many houses underwater or going into foreclosure; there is fear for the present and a lack of confidence in the future. Because of this, there is an irrational, emotion-driven push to bad-mouth everyone in government and throw them out of office.

There are many opportunists hoping to take advantage of this “movement,” seeing a chance to capture political office themselves, even though they have no real ideas, no solid grasp of the problems we are facing, and no genuine concern for the people, beyond hoping to get their votes by plastering the media with expensive advertisements.

Here in the Fifth district we are blessed to have one of the best people in Congress representing us. Chris Murphy is an honest man; he is an informed, intelligent, hard-working man, who has chosen a life of service to his country. If you have attended any of his public forums, or participated in any of his town meetings, or had him visit your group meeting, you already know — what a patient listener Chris is, and how clearly and thoughtfully he explains what the problems are, and the kinds of solutions that will work best in the long run.

In Washington, he has worked to maintain fiscal responsibility and to save jobs. The bipartisan 21st Century Buy American Act, which he proposed, stipulates that when the US government buys goods and materials, a larger percentage of these must come from American companies, so that jobs and tax dollars are not shipped overseas.

He is joining forces with a bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans to vote No on any federal budget that did not include a one percent cut in nondefense spending. He realizes that people are concerned with the deficit, and is taking realistic steps to control it.

Chris Murphy doesn’t rely on simplistic slogans or unrealistic promises. He doesn’t try to manipulate anger and fear. Rather, he is a true educator who genuinely believes that ordinary people are capable of understanding complicated issues, because otherwise, democracy is meaningless.

Sincerely,

Julie Stern

19 Park Lane, Newtown                                        September 28, 2010