I Cogitate

We Are America, but Washington Doesn't Hear Our Voice

"Eric asked me to come here tonight and explain who we are in the district.

My name is Lisa Feinberg Duckett, I live in Wellsville, NY in Allegany County. We are located in the Southwest corner of the other New York. Extremely rural, extremely beautiful and extremely poor.

We're the New York that few people know exist including the folks from New York City. We are the poorest County in New York State, yet due to our eroded tax base and the high percentage of residents receiving Medicaid we have one the highest property taxes in the state.

We are the working poor, holding 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet, but still have no health insurance. We are America, but Washington does not hear our voice.

We are the farmers whose family farms have put food on your tables for generations, and are now being sold at auctions. We are America, but Washington doesn't hear our voice.

We are the well trained machinists, engineers and assembly workers who put our hearts and souls into the Dresser Rand plant only to lose our jobs to areas with untrained workers and cheaper costs, resulting in large bonuses for Chief Executives.

We are the teachers who educate, train and nurture our students only to watch them move elsewhere because no opportunities exist for them here. We are America, but Washington doesn't hear our voice.

We are the towns where schools are closed during the first week of hunting season so that families may hunt together, fill their freezers and have meat for the coming year. We are America, but Washington doesn't hear our voice.

We are the senior citizens who worked hard to build and support this country but can no longer afford our medicine, and are in danger of losing our homes due to high property taxes. We are America, but Washington doesn't hear our voice.

We are the people who still believe Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the 4th of July are three of the most important days of the year. We are the towns where behind almost every front door you will meet someone who has served or is serving in the military, because it's their honor to do so, and now having to apply for food stamps and are in danger of losing their precious health benefits promised to them by the government. We are America, but Washington doesn't hear our voice."

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