CNN.com - Sources: Greenwood to leave House - Jul 19, 2004

I want to thank Congressman Jim Greenwood for restoring in me a bit of hope and help restoring my faith in my parents and specifically my mother. My parents are passionate, reasonable and educated. In the 1980’s they helped a guy they felt was nice and well suited for the state Senate. My mother was his campaign manager for that early effort of Mr. Greenwood.

I even got to meet him and talk briefly with him about the possibilities of computers and politics. When Mr. Greenwood ran for Congress in the 1990’s, I myself voted for him. He impressed me. He gave me hope about a vision of a possible future I was seeing, because he listened carefully, and intently. I got the impression he genuinely cared. I was most impressed because he used logic and reason when we talked.

At the time I thought it would be naïve to believe too much of this sensation. After all he was a politician. But he was making a bit of sense, because of his logic and reason. My mother, the college professor thought highly of his reasoning even if she happened to disagree. I watched his career with interest.

As time passed, things happened that fed my more cynical side, but I suppressed that sensation. I was a married, educated, professional software developer (a profession that values reason and logic), and I set aside my judgment because it seemed reasonable and Mom said it was ok.

The things that were happening in Congress did not seem to fit the mental image of the guy my mother felt was worthy. The party politics I was seeing in the 1990’s was concerned with one thing – winning. The pattern was that they not concerned with the business of the people. They were into “control” and power.

The man and current occupant of Congressman Greenwood’s old state senate seat, told me in no uncertain terms, that it is more important to have fewer people participating in the process, because it meant more work/effort to control. It is easier to manipulate a few than to lead many.

My disillusionment grew. I even had heated discussions with my mother. She didn’t want to believe that the Congressman was of the same breed that I was seeing. But the evidence mounted of the years. There was the pledge not seek re-election after so many terms. Then there was his “townhall” meeting at BCCC, prior to the war.

While I won’t speak for my mother, I think it is safe to characterize her opinion of the current Bush administration as below low. My parents objections to current Bush administration are so profound that in recent years my mother as made a hollow threat of leaving the country. While I say it was a hollow threat, she did take a teaching position in Bulgaria early 90’s.

Since about 2000, this poster boy of a compassionate conservative left his logic and reason some place. I started to blame my parents for helping the country’s political swing to the right. It was tough, I didn’t want to believe that my parents could be duped.

Today’s news changes that. My parents and I were not deceived or tricked by Congress Greenwood. The notion that fits the facts about the timing suggests that perhaps Congressman Greenwood may indeed feel a bit let down by the current controlling interests of his party.

Perhaps Jim Greenwood, my parents and I were all – “neo-conned” or perhaps out FOXed by people who are into fair and balanced control of power by themselves. I think my parents would agree that participation, and opened reasoned discussion and not party affiliation is what makes our system.

The common enemy is fanaticism. The philosophies that do not allow for alternatives, options. Whether they are on a Islamic Jihad in NY or a bare-beer-bellied, painted-face NY Giants fan going to an Eagles game in Philadelphia, it is the rhetoric and tin ear to a context that leads to violence and war.

Ginny Schrader and Jim Greenwood, in the race for the 8th Congressional seat have combined to make a case for logic and reason over ideological fanaticism. Together they make a case for a faith in the political will and human nature of the people over the dogma of party. I will remember this election season as the beginning of a budding a reunification of logic, reason with “We the people”. There is reason to hope, cautiously anyway.

My interpretation of this is that Jim reasoned more people will benefit by taking a small bit of national control away and giving it back to us, the people.

Congressmen Greenwood, I thank you for this final act as my Congressman. My mother thanks you.
Good Luck Ms Schrader!