"The Gift of No Todd Platts" by Zandra Bishop

When we decided to have kids we were living under the common delusion that all was well with our republic and our kids would simply inherit it from us. Fast forward to Christmas Season 2011 and we have little confidence that our 12- and 8-year-olds will inherit what we once, foolishly, had taken for granted as their birthright. During our kids' entire lives, our representative to Congress, Todd Platts, has squandered it and replaced it with:

1. The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.

--- Abdicates Congress' constitutional requirement to issue a formal declaration of war.

--- Sets a dangerous precedent and erodes checks and balances.

2. The USA PATRIOT Act.

--- Violates 4th Amendment right to security against "unreasonable search and seizure."

--- Erodes and chills First Amendment right to free speech, including outright gag orders.

--- Possesses a dark "secret interpretation" by the government, according to Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Udall.

And just in time for Christmas this year:

3. The "indefinite detention" provisions, passed under the cover of The National Defense Authorization Act FY2012.

--- Induced so much controversy among the lawmakers I have no doubt its legalese will produce nasty unintended consequences.

The best Christmas present we can give our kids now is knowledge of what we've come to believe is their actual birthright, everyone's birthright -- God-given free will, exclusive ownership of themselves, and the right to question authority. Two things we strive to give them are the replacement of Todd Platts in 2012 and the restoration of the U.S. Constitution and our republic.

I cry as I write this letter because I don't know if we can deliver our last two gifts. Merry Christmas, kids, at least you know Mom and Dad are fighting for you.

NOTE: Letter printed in the York Daily Record, January 4, 2012 Edition