This is a letter that I wrote to Congressman Greg Walden, Oregon's 2nd District Representative, who voted "Aye" for the Wall Street Bailout on Monday.

Congressman Walden,

I respect your commitments to the interests of Oregonians, and have voted for you in the past because I always see you talking with the people, no matter how far they are from Salem. I may not always agree with your policy ideals, but I do believe that are truly interested in helping your constituents, especially in Eastern Oregon, where I most often witness your contributions. I am also impressed by your tenacity to extend county timber payments, but I do not think that attaching this goal to the current Wall Street Bailout is the way to do it.  It is more likely a way help in one area that you and our state has been fighting for, but at greater cost to other areas of our community. 

It is true that a credit crunch will limit our ability to get loans, and a small business owner struggling through my early years, I understand that this makes business growth tougher. Still, I couldn't care less about getting a loan right now. All this talk of recession in the past years, while I have never been more prosperous in my business. The answer is not in being able to get more loans or easier loans, the answer is in acknowledging tough times and putting your back into the core competencies of your business.  If anything, this credit crunch is an opportunity for businesses and people to reassess the most important goals for themselves, and slow down on expansion.  There are times when credit flows like the Columbia River, and there are times when it trickles like the John Day at the end of summer, and I feel we need to be a stronger state and a stronger nation by saying, "I know it will be hard, but it is the right thing to do to not pass this hasty Bill." 

Allowing the government to take over bad debts? How is that a solution? They aren't going to just turn good and redeem their value. And this will only allow the companies in trouble to distribute more loans during a time when people SHOULD be saving their own money and not expanding on a high-interest gamble. 

The State of Oregon, in it's own right, can be a self-sustaining state if we so choose.  We have the agriculture, we have the business and tech smarts, and we have the alternative energies.  There are better ways to turn our economy back on the road to prosperity, and I feel that the current Bill that goes to the House today has been pushed through hastily, benefits the few at the cost of the many, and is being deployed through the White House and the Media as a scare tactic to rush the passing votes before we know the true consequences of this Bill. 

John McCain and Barack Obama have both pushed for the Bill, which is just another reason for myself and others to vote for an Independent Presidential Candidate this November. This isn't a small or empty threat.  Across the board, from city officials to state representatives, to presidential candidates, the citizens of this amazing state are for the first time in my memory intensely watching how our representatives act when pressured from outside interests. There is a growing angst among voters, and I would like to plead with you once more - Please do not vote "Aye" again on this hasty Bill. It does not provide long-term relief and it is not ready to pass.  If anything, it should be painstakingly worked and reworked before ever getting such a close vote as it did on Monday.

With Respect and Good Will,

Levi Anderson
Native Oregonian