We are losing our country. This fact could not have been more clear than on June 13 when Congressman Mark Souder condescended to grace, none too gracefully, our “town hall” event at the Kendallville library. An objective observer would have thought the king was addressing the peasantry.

When a gentleman asked Souder how he felt about state sovereignty, he was informed that Indiana does not have any legitimate right whatsoever to its own control; the states are mere appendages of the supreme federal government.

He dismissed all opposition to his support for the bailout of GM claiming that members of Congress have perfect authority to own, fund and manage any company it pleases.

Another man expressed concern about the government’s takeover of the health care industry. Souder offered the typical, flimsy political jargon about “the need to reconcile” the socialization of our medical practice with the private sector. Anyone paying attention knows that this is one of those “problems” for which the government just has to provide another disastrous “solution,” while the vast majority of Americans who desire health care already have it and are satisfied.

In perhaps the most disturbing display of all his runaway arrogance, Souder continued refusing to back H.R. 1207, “the Audit the Fed” bill, the most common-sense, desperately needed initiative to come down the pike in eons. His excuse: “It isn’t popular.” Indeed, it is not popular at all – not with the kingdom in Washington, nor apparently with the nobles of the Republican machine here in Noble County.

Souder droned on and on and on, sidestepped every question and said absolutely nothing all afternoon.

I know I speak not only for myself but for many others who left this disgraceful event before the charade was over. We were not bamboozled by his majesty’s endless goose-stepping. Come next year, we will be working tirelessly to dethrone his royal behind, and if you love the country you inherited, you should, too.

RACHEL GRUBB Auburn