RE: Why no posts from Senators or Representatives?

[Lisa Furia <lfuria@earthlink.net>]

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Arsinow.  

On the one hand, it is great to see so many people of different opinions sharing ideas quite civilly and provoking us all to think through our positions, challenge our preconceptions and underlying values.

Yet, it is truly disheartening to hear that this forum and others like it may be merely a bone thrown to us by well-intentioned organizations such as ADSS if, as today's NY Times reports, the only politically viable "solution" to SS's problems is for both parties and the President to negotiate "behind closed doors".  In a discussion of values, I believe that kind of bait and switch is what reinforces disillusionment with the political process.  If on the one hand, our elected officials (like the venerable Congressional members joining us next week) endorse forums like these, yet, do the real work without public scrutiny, it seems rather disingenous to me.

I am not naive about the political process; I only wish it could be more honest.

Lisa