We are old and decrepit, and we thought we couldn't protest
*but* our representative, Brian Fitzpatrick, was one of the two Republicans who voted against the reconciliation bill, and we feel like we helped make that happen.
Fitzpatrick is always described as a "moderate" Republican, but until now he has voted 100% with Trump. His "no" vote was a surprise to all of us, but here's why:
There was massive public outcry against this bill--which has happened before, to no avail--but this time people got serious. My husband and I called his office every day, and when I got to speak to a real person, she got an earful about us, 78 years old with a 40 year old daughter who is totally disabled and reliant on SS, Medicare and Medicaid for her very existence. I told her how our whole family came under tremendous, unbearable stress at the idea that Sara would not be cared for after we die. It costs at least $125,000 every year to keep her alive and well and enjoying some quality of life, a burden none of us can carry without help.
We sent emails to his office every day. We and other Democrats kept the pressure on him, *hard*. A group staged a "Die In" at his local office.
What I'm trying to say, and what I didn't realize until now, is that *no one is without power* in this climate. If all you can do is make a phone call--do it, and do it at least once a day. Flood them with emails. Let them know that they are accountable to us. We do have power, and I didn't know it.