Accolades to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
Mark Anderson
December 27, 2008
As my readers know, I spend a great deal of time trying to expose problems. The usual refrain I hear is that, by "not promoting solutions," this is somehow inherently negative. But I would submit that discovering the problem is part of the solution.
That said, I would, however, be remiss if I failed to take a timeout this holiday season to give a few accolades where they are due. I swear: beneath my frank assessment of the problems we face, is a big, soft heart. I would humbly submit that it is because of my big heart that I have taken an interest in trying to curtail the problems of our day. I have had a lot on my mind lately, and this has contributed towards my delinquency in giving recognition where it is due.
As I reflect on the last several years, I thought it to be kind of interesting that, as a libertarian, out of the three people who have represented me in the Congress/Senate who have been the most responsive to my concerns and in handling case work, two are Democrats.
Former U.S. Senator Rod Grams was a class act, and I am proud to have helped him get elected back in 1994, while I was still in high school. Former Congressman Bill Luther was an outstanding Congressman when it came to listening to his constituents. The other office that is deserving of accolades is Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's.
I wish to preface this by saying that I do not agree with Congresswoman Berkley's positions on several issues. But then neither do I agree with most Republicans, nor most members of Congress, on the issues. Not that I am saying Congresswoman Berkley is a libertarian on an objective scale, but in juxtaposition with most Republicans (i.e., a subjective scale), Congresswoman Berkley is actually closer to libertarianism.
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has some of the finest staff members working for her that I have ever dealt with. Matt Coffron is her legislative aide for economic policy, and he is deserving of accolades for taking time to listen to what I have to say. Handling veterans' case work in her local office is Roxane, who is also deserving of accolades for having put up with me.
As an advocate of laissez-faire, here is the compromise I would be willing to make: cut the whole of the federal government, save Congresswoman Berkley's office! We can let her office remain intact as we slash and cut the rest of Washington's budget!
So, in short, I wanted to say - hopefully you are reading this, Congresswoman - Congresswoman Berkley, you have the finest Congressional staff that I have ever worked with. And let me punctuate this by noting that it is very unusual for me to give accolades to anybody in Washington, D.C.! Happy New Year to you and your staff!
P.S.--Congresswoman, now if I could get you to just start reading my hero: Murray Rothbard! BTW, I see a bit of irony in the similar backgrounds you and Murray have, yet the two of you are politically opposite. Murray Rothbard was Jewish, grew up in New York, and spent his last days in Las Vegas as a professor at UNLV.
That said, I would, however, be remiss if I failed to take a timeout this holiday season to give a few accolades where they are due. I swear: beneath my frank assessment of the problems we face, is a big, soft heart. I would humbly submit that it is because of my big heart that I have taken an interest in trying to curtail the problems of our day. I have had a lot on my mind lately, and this has contributed towards my delinquency in giving recognition where it is due.
As I reflect on the last several years, I thought it to be kind of interesting that, as a libertarian, out of the three people who have represented me in the Congress/Senate who have been the most responsive to my concerns and in handling case work, two are Democrats.
Former U.S. Senator Rod Grams was a class act, and I am proud to have helped him get elected back in 1994, while I was still in high school. Former Congressman Bill Luther was an outstanding Congressman when it came to listening to his constituents. The other office that is deserving of accolades is Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's.
I wish to preface this by saying that I do not agree with Congresswoman Berkley's positions on several issues. But then neither do I agree with most Republicans, nor most members of Congress, on the issues. Not that I am saying Congresswoman Berkley is a libertarian on an objective scale, but in juxtaposition with most Republicans (i.e., a subjective scale), Congresswoman Berkley is actually closer to libertarianism.
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has some of the finest staff members working for her that I have ever dealt with. Matt Coffron is her legislative aide for economic policy, and he is deserving of accolades for taking time to listen to what I have to say. Handling veterans' case work in her local office is Roxane, who is also deserving of accolades for having put up with me.
As an advocate of laissez-faire, here is the compromise I would be willing to make: cut the whole of the federal government, save Congresswoman Berkley's office! We can let her office remain intact as we slash and cut the rest of Washington's budget!
So, in short, I wanted to say - hopefully you are reading this, Congresswoman - Congresswoman Berkley, you have the finest Congressional staff that I have ever worked with. And let me punctuate this by noting that it is very unusual for me to give accolades to anybody in Washington, D.C.! Happy New Year to you and your staff!
P.S.--Congresswoman, now if I could get you to just start reading my hero: Murray Rothbard! BTW, I see a bit of irony in the similar backgrounds you and Murray have, yet the two of you are politically opposite. Murray Rothbard was Jewish, grew up in New York, and spent his last days in Las Vegas as a professor at UNLV.