I sent the below text to Congressman Inslee today using the Congressional Web Form site (hate that I cannot send a direct mail to him). I also sent it to Inslee's Republican challenger, James Watkins.

You can see James' blog entry response here:
http://watkinsforcongress.netboots.net/posts/finish-the-kitchen-or-damn-the-voters-full-speed-ahead

-Amy
______________________________________________________

Congressman Inslee,

I am writing you regarding the story in yesterday's Seattle Times which described your experience with a recent kitchen remodel and detailed how you compared this remodeling experience to the current turbulence that the Senate and House members are experiencing with the "Health Care Reform" process. ("Jay Inslee on Health Care Reform: 'Finish The Kitchen' " E. J. Dionne, Seattle Times February 9, 2010. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011018519_dionne09.html)

I cannot disagree with you more. The two situations are not the same at all.

You, in consultation with your family, made a choice to remodel your kitchen. You interviewed the contractors. You decided, with the contractor, exactly what changes were to be made to your kitchen. The fact that the remodeling took longer than you expected and was much more disruptive than you intended, does not change the fact that it was your choice to initiate the kitchen remodel in the first place.

In keeping with your kitchen remodel analogy-

I did not invite Congress in to my kitchen. Congress barged through my front door, took a look around and decided for me that my kitchen needed renovation. Congress did not ask me if I wanted changes made to my kitchen. Congress did not discuss the changes they wanted to make to my kitchen with me, in fact, they hid their plans in the back room. Congress decided that I cannot choose to go with out a kitchen - unless I want to risk incurring a fine and/or jail time). Congress decided that I cannot choose to have too fancy a kitchen, with expensive appliances, or I will have to pay a fine (unless I am in a Union). Congress decided for everyone that we should all have the same institutional style kitchen that they designed for us cooking same bland food while simultaneously telling us: "Trust me, you will love it when it is all finished".

Why does Congress feel the need to remodel my kitchen and the kitchens of so many American families in order to 'provide' new kitchens for less than 15% of the population?

I am not sure how I can say it loud enough for you, and the other members of Congress, to hear me - get out of my kitchen!

Respectfully,

-Amy

Amy XXXXXX
XXXXXX, WA