We live in Gettysburg, where the most famous and bloodiest battle of the Civil War was fought. There were 50,000 casualties in that battle. Among them were 10,000 soldiers who were “Missing In Action”. Were they dead? Did they desert? At first, no one knew.
Today, there are 273 people who are “Missing In Action.” They are hard to find. We know where they are supposed to be. They are supposed to be in Washington, DC., in the United States Capitol Building. Those 273 people who are Missing In Action are the members of the United States Congress who are members of the Republican Party.
Among those Gettysburg soldiers who were initially Missing In Action, it was learned that most were Prisoners of War. The 273 members of Congress who are Missing In Action are beholden to Trump. They have the power to pass legislation to provide enough money to fund the operation of the Gettysburg National Military Park adequately. They have the power to pass legislation to fund high-quality medical care for our veterans. The power to fund research to cure cancer. The power to fund enough people to operate the help desks at the Social Security Administration. They have the power to lower the national deficit by passing tax laws that force billionaires to be taxed at a rate higher than nurses in hospitals. Why are they not using the power that has been given to them, and to them only, by the United States Constitution? Why have they abandoned their Constitutionally-mandated posts and willingly given their power to the President?
When the Republicans took over last January, they sent someone out to distract from their own lack of action. He was a billionaire waving a chainsaw. We saw Elon Musk as the problem, rather than the Republicans. Meanwhile, our 273 Republican Congressional reps were hiding behind him. Let us no longer be fooled. Let us direct our outrage against the people who have the power and ability to do what is right. To tax the people who can afford to be taxed. To send money to the civil servants who care for our veterans, who send us our social security checks, and who care for the Gettysburg Battlefield.
Set your sights on Congressman Joyce and Senator McCormick. All it takes is for them to show the courage to object to Trump’s impoundment of appropriations they have already made and perform the oversight of Trump that they were elected to perform on our behalf. To serve our veterans, our retirees, and the people who visit our National Parks, and to take back the power given to them by the Constitution of the United States.
Patricia A. Shoap
Retired Attorney
Gettysburg