December 29, 2020
Dear Loved Ones,
Thank you for your interest in my passionate letter in support of democracy.
In my 2019 letter (which I actually sent as a New Year’s letter because I couldn’t treat Christmas normally under the circumstances), I wrote of my passion for the democracy. We saw the impeachment approaching and Republican senators threatening to hear no witnesses about the serious charges before Trump. As it turned out, that is exactly what the Republicans did, because their own people did not call them out. I was hoping to prevent such an abdication of the responsibilities laid out by the Constitution. That abdication is what has inspired Republicans to form the Lincoln Project, and to commit to removing from office every Republican Senator who accepted this. For the record, that means everyone except Mitt Romney.
The other focus for the year was the fast-approaching November elections. My dedication was to bringing a new president into the White House. But my concern became the rumblings, beginning in July, of our President about not wanting or trusting vote-by-mail balloting during a pandemic. He started predicting corruption of the vote. The good thing about this was it put all the Secretaries of State of all 50 states on notice to make a transparent and protected voting process. Their success is measured by the number of successful Trump lawsuits proving fraud: 0. He and his supporters can claim fraud on media all they want. But courts demand evidence or they throw the case out promptly.
I worked as hard as I could, along with Republicans and Independents in the Lincoln Project, for a victory for Joe Biden. I’ve been concerned about protecting our democracy for the past 4-5 years, and this was the opportunity for democracy to win. I am so grateful to see that Americans voted in higher numbers than ever before. We all did our best. And the majority has spoken quite clearly. The pandemic didn’t keep them home. Everyone voted in the way they felt was safer or preferable in some way.
The truth is that without COVID, the man who wanted to win at all costs, likely would have won. But as COVID surged in red states, statisticians watched Trump lost Republican voters. They realized from experience that it was not a hoax. Trump lost 6.9% of the Republican voters in the swing states. Plus, the natural Republican military support of 60% dropped to 20%, at least in Pennsylvania. A Republican witness thought this was funny and perhaps fraudulent. She was unaware of how much Trump has denigrated and insulted the highest of military values: honoring sacrifice for one’s country, dedication to the Constitution, and promptness for the opportunities to do so. Trump arrived 30 minutes late this year to the Veteran’s Day celebration, and left after 6 minutes. The military pays attention to behavior as well as words.
In the fighting since, led by a White House that cannot accept a loss, I kept close to the Lincoln Project to keep me calm and balanced. It was so comforting to work with the principled, courageous Republicans that I had been affirming/praying for since 2016 (when I created the “Republican Courage and Integrity Project” in honor of my father, Richard Elken). Their faith in democracy is palpable, and it has been validated by enough people of courage from all parties, including many Republican judges appointed by Trump. I feel great unity with people of different backgrounds who all believe that we must vote for American democracy, protect our republic from authoritarianism and worship of a personality rather than cherishing of principles.
To demonstrate how much our current President affected his party, it must be noted: 2020 is the first year that the Republican party had no party platform of plans and guiding principles.
And now it is sad to see the Republican party is under attack from within. There is the group dedicate to the cult of Trump, and the group dedicated to Republican principles. I appreciate a healthy two-party system as a way for vigorous discussion to result in bi-partisan solutions that work for the most people. Of course, we have not had that for a long time because Mitch McConnell has openly gloated in using his Senate majority to block anything the Democrats wanted to accomplish. That is not democracy and I am praying and working for Georgia to provide a balanced Senate for the Biden administration.
This brings about an opportunity to address the false charges of socialism that Republicans are hoping will bring them victory. It worked in Florida, but not in the nation as a while. The Democrats have unfortunately ignored this charge and I think that is a mistake. I will tackle it here.
The meaning of socialism, from Wikipedia is:
Socialism is a political, social and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership[1][2][3] of the means of production[4][5][6][7] and workers’ self-management of enterprises.[8][9] It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems.[10] Social ownership can be public, collective, cooperative, or of equity.[11] While no single definition encapsulates many types of socialism,[12] social ownership is the one common element.
I know of no one in office who wants a strict socialist system. No one is calling for the end of capitalism. But also, no one is pointing out the truth that we do have social ownership already of many of our national and local assets:
- the interstate and state highway systems
- the local police and fire departments
We do not have to pay individually for these services. We accept that our community provides them through the taxes we pay. No one is up in arms about this socialism.
The insurance lobby has many politicians controlled. They are the ones that benefit from having profit in the healthcare system. To me, capitalism in healthcare is an atrocity. I am happy to be in a nation where we are realizing that denying insurance due to pre-existing conditions is not pro-life, and it is not conscionable to deny those most in need.
If we can join a mindset to make healthcare #3 in that list above, I would be very happy. I am a healthcare provider. I do not like working with insurance companies because each one is a complicated bureaucracy with its own set of complicated rules. You have seen doctor’s offices with whole staff rooms devoted to communicating with, and receiving permission for treatments from the insurance companies. This drives up costs for our healthcare. Every step along the way it is a sluggish and inadequate system. I would be very happy to work with one insurance provider so that life is manageable in the bookkeeping department. The rules are clear and predictable. I would be happy to accept insurance under that design. For now, I only take private pay. Thus, I’m only serving the wealthy, plus a few pro bono clients. That is uncomfortable to declare. It doesn’t fit my values, but it allows my life to be simpler, and to not have to hire a staff to do the endlessly tedious work.
Dave and I had terrific insurance that covered everything for him. Nonetheless, as his cancer was first discovered, it took a month to see the oncologist and then a month to begin treatment. This is a poor system. People with cancer need immediate access.
So far, through our bipartisan system, Obama worked tirelessly for the ACA “Affordable Care Act.” Some Republicans loved their ACA, but hated “Obamacare,” not aware that they are the same thing. Obamacare was the title created by Republicans to criticize the plan. When Trump threated to take it away, all of a sudden, they realized they would be left on the streets without any care because of their pre-existing condition. All of a sudden, their love for Trump took a big hit.
But I think the compromise worked out was pretty good. It allowed coverage for those who had none. The greatest power on earth has proven we can offer this through the ACA. But it allowed people to stick with their private insurance if they wished. And the ACA plans were offered through insurance companies as well. Biden intends to continue with these policies. Despite over seventy efforts by Republicans to demolish the ACA, it has miraculously survived. The Supreme Court with Trumps 3 picks has refused to hear any more cases about the ACA.
Whew! The last step happened in December, in the midst of a pandemic, the Republicans were still at it. Covid-19 causes ongoing health problems. They mismanaged it and thus we have bigger numbers than any nation on earth, even allowing for per capita comparisons to make the numbers fairer. And then after their irresponsibility, they want the American people to suffer lack of healthcare if they lose their insurance? Many are losing their insurance because they are losing their jobs. It is proving that a system that ties insurance to jobs is an inadequate system.
What a year! We still have a democracy, but it is still under threat. We still have our friends and relatives of similar and differing persuasions. I pray we can rebuild unity. I pray we can live our lives guided by consistent principles rather than a cult of an erratic personality who is guided frequently by whim, revenge, anger.
Above all, I pray that we can find the ability to practice bipartisan respect, cooperation and compromise for the good of ourselves, our children, and the generations to come. We have inherited a democracy. Let us pray that we protect and pass on that democracy so the American future can continue to be free.
If you have read this far, I thank you. And please feel free to reach out to connect with me to discuss your views and feelings, values and concerns. I am interested in YOU.
You can reach me by the following ways
Cell 619 322-3666
Email danaterrell.lcsw@gmail.com
Mail 3537 Boundary Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Much love and prayers for a much better 2021,
Dana
