I am a former Butler Armco employee. I read with considerable interest the letters of Darryl A. Kirschner ("Reveal statistics' source," Aug. 10) and Rick Devore ("Letter lacked evidence," Aug. 12) regarding the candidacy of Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper for a second term. Kirschner stated that "Dahlkemper and those of her ilk want total control over every aspect of our lives." Devore stated that "nothing could be further from the truth, and the writer (Kirschner) merely is parroting Republican propaganda." The facts suggest Kirschner is correct. The U.S. Congress has passed laws that control the manufacture of light bulbs and the size and flow rates for toilet tanks. Congress passed the health care reform law that is being contested in the courts as forcing citizens to purchase a product. Then there was the takeover of GM and Chrysler, and the move to take over student loans, and housing mortgages through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Kirschner states that "Dahlkemper is in lock step with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Progressive Caucus." Devore states that "even a cursory review of Dahlkemper's record disproves that statement." However, voting records posted on the Washington Post's website reveal that Dahlkemper has voted with a majority of Democratic colleagues 93.6 percent of the time during the current Congress. I would submit that 93.6 percent is in lock step with the Democratic leadership. Kirschner again is correct in his assertions; Devore does not have the facts on his side. In regard to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Devore would be well served to investigate the newly published book by William E. Been titled "Masters of Audacity and Deceit" to gain a clear understanding of the financial crisis caused by the Progressive Congress. The 29 pages of recorded facts reported in this excellent work show that the Progressive movement in both the Democratic and Republican leadership is a "bankrupt philosophy" that has failed us. Dahlkemper supports that philosophy by way of 93 percent of her votes in Congress. I would submit that a careful review of facts shows that Kirschner is a patriot who is well informed about Dahlkemper and the current Congress — and is not "ill-informed," as Devore states.
