Response to "Patch" Post (Gregg Heacock)

Henry Waxman, most recently, has protected us from efforts by Republicans to throw out all regulations, which, of course, include those related to clean air, clean water, toxic waste, food and drugs, and everything else related to safety. Though Bill Bloomberg would like to pass himself off as an Independent, he is a foxy Rebublican disguised in sheep's clothing. Henry has been in government for the past 38 years because he is one of the best representatives serving in our Congress today. Frankly, I am surprised to see the Santa Monica Patch publish a blog so lacking in content that it hardly deserves to be published as a letter to the editor. (Santa Monica Patch, 12: 43 pm, Tuesday, July 31, 2012)

"protected us from efforts by Republicans to throw out all regulations"

Regulations which were supposed to protect to consumer opress the business entrepreneur, which in turn oppresses the consumer by "protecting" the individual from choice and a free market. I am glad for nutritional labels, but if the cost of food keeps rising, in large part because of the ethanol lobby, which Henry Waxman supported with amendments to their benefit in Waxman-Markey (http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/pdf/FINAL%20Waxman-Markey%20Study%2009-28-2009.pdf)
"Clean air, clean water" -- I cannot complain about cleaner natural resources, but is it really the contention that Congressman Waxman, by waving his magic legislative wand, actually improves the environment? And what about his nearly two decades of opposition to the LA Metro project to build an underground subway from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica? Imagine the diminished air, noise pollution, along with less traffic congestion, that would have emerged had Waxman lifted his thumb off the project?

Then there's ObamaCare, the largest tax increase in American History, the provisions of which are already hurting hospitals across the country, which will still have to serve a population that cannot purchase health insurance and cannot be taxed for not purchasing health insurance. (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017417807_harrop04.html)

"everything else related to safety" --

This notion in itself is suspect. Do we really want a Big Government that protects us from everything?

Though Bill Bloomberg would like to pass himself off as an Independent, he is a foxy Rebublican disguised in sheep's clothing.

Bill Bloomfield is an Independent with a capital "I". He was a registered Republican, but he became a "Decline to state" because of the partisan bickering eating up Congress and eating away at our future. Bloomfield has no connections to either party while refusing any donations from special interests of PACs. He want to work across the aisle on issues, which long-term incumbents like Henry Waxman, who have all but chosen their constituencies, have  had no incentive to work with the other party to get anything done.

Henry has been in government for the past 38 years because he is one of the best representatives serving in our Congress today.

I would ask Mr. Heacock to qualify this broad statement. In truth, Mr. Waxman has been choosing his district and voters for the past three decades. He has not had to put up much of a fight because the party representation was so lop-sided that he did not have a chance of losing, winning at least 60% of the vote each time. Bill Bloomfield helped initiate the Citizen's Redistricting Commission and the Open Primary reforms which would allow different candidates to challenge the party hegemony which had protected so many legislators, including Mr. Waxman.