It’s always somewhat startling to see a supremely well-connected, politically active multimillionaire advocate on behalf of the working class, but that’s just what Carl Paladino does today in a terse and silly open letter to Congressman Brian Higgins.
Mr. Paladino, I agree with you about a lot of stuff, but you’re much more effective when you’re advocating on behalf of the business community. And this message is practically tailor-made to maximize its – and its author’s – exposure on WBEN, but little else. With all due respect, millionaire developers do not want for care, nor do they want for health insurance coverage. Not everyone in this country is as fortunate, and we live in a country where people lose their homes, their jobs, and go hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt to save family members’ lives. We live in a country where delis collect spare change on behalf of victims of pediatric diseases. No other industrialized, civilized society in the world has to do that. Why a wealthy developer would want to foreclose an uninsured working class family’s ability to obtain health coverage is anyone’s guess.
Brian, you have a dilemma. Those overwhelming progressive liberal views that you suppressed in the past have now combined with an ego, arrogance and indifference that has outgrown our community and blossomed into an unacceptable conflict with the views of your moderate working class constituency.
Let’s pause for a moment and realize that the topic of discussion isn’t Brian Higgins’ views, or the views of his constituents. The topic is health insurance reform. Things like eliminating discrimination for pre-existing conditions. Letting insurers compete across state lines. Things like an available public buy-in for people who can’t afford or can’t find decent, affordable private insurance. Higgins isn’t some pinko with a Che shirt advocating for socialized medicine. He’s a political centrist who is going to be voting for a middle way between an untenable and unregulated free market and socialism.
On behalf of the working men and women of Western New York, we warn you that the tax, social and business burdens of the democrat sponsored Health Care Bill in its present form, are overwhelmingly at odds with the best interests of the people you represent. If you vote for it we will vehemently oppose your re-election. Your infatuation with Nancy Pelosi, as with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, is off the reservation. You should consider serving the interests of those who you represent.
Who died and left Carl Paladino to speak “on behalf of the working men and women of Western New York”? Who is he to say what is in the “best interests of the people” Higgins represents? I’m not kidding, If you vote for it we will vehemently oppose your re-election. – who’s we? Is that a royal “we”?
I hardly think that Higgins’ position on health insurance reform has to do with an “infatuation with Nancy Pelosi”. It has to do with the fact that Higgins believes – as do a majority of Americans – that health insurance reform is desperately needed. It is needed for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to ensure that the working poor and middle classes – the people who aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or any other safety-net single-payer program – can get affordable, quality coverage.
You should consider serving the interests of those who you represent
Thankfully, he’s doing just that.
