Dear Representative Chris Gibson

Over the past months, I have been reading and listening to all the reports on the debt ceiling and deficit reduction talks with considerable anxiety and chagrin.

Tonight I listened to the President's speech and am following his advice in writing to you to urge you to vote for a debt ceiling increase whether it includes deficit reduction, tax increases or not.

Although I believe the Simpson/Bowles report accurately reflects the painful, yet necessary steps to achieving fiscal stability, I also believe that raising the debt ceiling is NOT a choice. It is a necessity, before any other steps can be taken. The catastrophic consequences of defaulting will rock our world and destabilize not only the U. S., but the global economy.

Every bank account, investment account, annuity, 401K, 401B, IRA is threatened by default - not to mention Social Security and Medicare that keep our retired solvent and the Medicaid that insures the poorest among us have access to health care. Let us not forget either our military serving in foreign wars, our veterans struggling here at home or our businesses large and small who rely on lines of credit to meet their expenses.

I KNOW you are a patriot. Your service to our country proved that.

I beg you to support raising the debt ceiling. You were elected in a traditionally Republican district. But Kirsten Gillibrand proved that Democrats can win here. The American voters - Democratic, Republican and independent - DESPERATELY want representatives who represent them.