Shuker letter: Listen to voters

I feel like I and many other voters are not being heard. If the majority of voters want gun control, increased minimum wages, Add the Words, Medicare for persons in the the insurance gap, pre-K education, better education not just 2009 funding, laws against denying life-saving medical care for children, hands off Planned Parenthood and no state or private ownership of public lands — then why are we not being heard? I don’t know of one person who attends church regularly and yet the religious right seems to rule and prevent any kind of change on issues that the majority of voters want to be considered. I feel we have a case of the tail wagging the dog. The mantra that we are a “Christian nation” does not hold water under historical scrutiny. Our forefathers were not that religious but they did insist that all people be treated equally under a democratic government. That means believers, nonbelievers. It also means that we need respect to our elected government and work within the laws to effect desired change. It is also required that elected officials listen to us and not obstruct change by blocking votes and discussion of issues.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Shuker letter: Listen to voters."