03/17/07: Julie Enslow: Citizens must make their voices heard
Citizens must make their voices heard
Regarding the March 14 editorial on U.S. Rep. David Obey's outburst, when citizens lobby our elected officials, we should be telling them exactly what we want, not what they think is politically realistic ("Ruckus in the hallway").
If the votes are not there to end the funding for this dreadful war, it is our job to call, write and visit our legislators to make sure the votes are there. Our influence is over our own two senators and one representative.
Most analysts agree that the November elections were a referendum on the war in Iraq. It is hard to believe that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership would seriously be considering a timeline for ending the war or cutting off funds if they were not receiving enormous pressure from the grass roots. People did not vote for another year and a half of war.
It is the responsibility of the electorate to give our elected officials the courage to act responsibly and end this ongoing occupation, remove all troops and U.S. military bases and provide the Iraqis with the money to rebuild their own country.
If Congress truly cares about our troops, it will remove them from the nightmare of Iraq and give Iraq back to the Iraqis.
Julie Byrnes Enslow
Shorewood