Question for those who regularly contact their representatives

[5412]

Hi,

On another political thread, I posted a letter to my Senator in FL.  Someone rightfully suggested that I might consider being more respectful. 

Yesterday a caller to Limbaugh told about a survey he conducted.  He personally called something like 175 members of congress and asked them if they would be willing to put themselves and their families under the proposed health care plan.  100% said NO.

It would appear to me that all members of congress are likely fawned over, ass kissed by hundreds of lobbyists, fawned over by the press etc.  Probably does not take long for them to feel they are really something special, almost like a star athlete to the 10th power or something.

Given a choice I would prefer to be polite and respectful of all people; however in writing to most of the members of congress i am either ignored, or particularly in the case of the liberal members they go beyond ignoring me.  I get the distinct impression they could care less about my point of view.  Senator Nelson of FL responds to every email I send him with his standard moveondotorg response completely ignoring what I have to say.  I can get more logic out of my five year old grandson.  Go to his website and it is all about him, full of photos "look at me and BO on a private jet!" etc.

HERE IS MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU.  Anyone beside me had their fill of this crap?  Why should we respect people who believe in two sets of standards, one for us peasants, and one for them as part of the elite?  If we owned a business and hired an employee shouldn't we expect that employee to treat US respectfully and do what we say?  We hire them, don't we?

What I am getting to is I am fed up with the game.  Anyone feel that stratight talk like, "Hey, wanna get fired vote for the health care bill" is probably a better approach than being nice and saying "Hey Senator, please do not vote for this bill".  I am tired of asking them to do something, time to start not only telling them but DEMANDING THEY DO THEIR JOB AND REPRESENT US. 

Anyone else on board with this???

regards,
5412

[docstew]

Call his office, make an appointment, show up for it, and have a camera in tow.  When they blow you off, just say real nice, but loudly, "I guess Senator Nelson doesn't have time to talk to a constituent".  Post to Youtube and send to whatever news org wants it, along with any R candidates, along with free license to use in ads.

[5412]

Call his office, make an appointment, show up for it, and have a camera in tow.  When they blow you off, just say real nice, but loudly, "I guess Senator Nelson doesn't have time to talk to a constituent".  Post to Youtube and send to whatever news org wants it, along with any R candidates, along with free license to use in ads.

Good suggestion, when I get back home to FL I will have to give that some thought.  I think he has an office nearby. 

Am I the only person who is totally fed up???

regards,
5412

[Chris_]

Good suggestion, when I get back home to FL I will have to give that some thought.  I think he has an office nearby. 

Am I the only person who is totally fed up???

regards,
5412

No, you aren't even close to the only one totally fed up with "the political class".  I usually restrain myself anyway, because my preferred method of dealing with these turds at this point in time would be to line 'em all up on the capitol steps to pose for rifle fire.  When they piss me off, I usually have to remind myself that, "if you 'kill 'em, they don't learn nothing."

[franksolich]

I dunno, 5412.

I've been very fortunate all my life, being represented by responsive politicians, excepting the couple of years I lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

That was the only bad experience, when I contacted a corrupt machine Democrat state representative, and got rebuffed rather rudely.

But out here in Nebraska, I've never even gotten a brush-off, not even when the peson was a Democrat.  On matters non-political--bureaucratic snafus, those sorts of things--I can't recall one senator or congressman whose office didn't take care of it, even if only a trivial matter.

Hell, one time I wrote my congressman (R) bitching about the lack of railway schedules out here, and one of his aides, while going home that evening, in Washington, D.C. at Union Station picked up the timetables for me.  (This was before the internet, by the way.)

Because I've done income taxes since I was a teenager, over the years I've encountered customers with difficulties with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), and the office of one or another senator or congressman helped resolve it.

On matters political, there's of course been disagreements with Democrat senators from Nebraska, and the very rare Democrat congressman, but never a brush-off, never told that my opinion or feelings didn't matter.

The Democrat U.S. Senator Edward ("the Zero") Zorinsky, in office 1977-1986, once wrote and told me that I needed to grow up, but other than that was always cordial and respectful.

At the time I went to the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants with free medical care for all, Nebraska was represented by two Democrat senators, one Democrat congressman, and two Republican congressmen (a situation long ago rectified).

Due to a transposed telephone number, I evaporated, for six days trying to grope my way through a wockenkuckkucksheim, a cloud cuckoo-land where nothing made sense--an experience I certainly would not wish upon anybody else other than the les risibles and drek primitives--and all five representatives of both parties raised Hell with the U.S. Department of State, wanting to know why I wasn't being found, even though I was leaving all sorts of clues, hints, traces of where I was, or where I had been.

They all raised Hell, but Senator J. James Exon (D) raised the most.

[5412]

I dunno, 5412.

I've been very fortunate all my life, being represented by responsive politicians, excepting the couple of years I lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

That was the only bad experience, when I contacted a corrupt machine Democrat state representative, and got rebuffed rather rudely.

But out here in Nebraska, I've never even gotten a brush-off, not even when the peson was a Democrat.  On matters non-political--bureaucratic snafus, those sorts of things--I can't recall one senator or congressman whose office didn't take care of it, even if only a trivial matter.

Hell, one time I wrote my congressman (R) bitching about the lack of railway schedules out here, and one of his aides, while going home that evening, in Washington, D.C. at Union Station picked up the timetables for me.  (This was before the internet, by the way.)

Because I've done income taxes since I was a teenager, over the years I've encountered customers with difficulties with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), and the office of one or another senator or congressman helped resolve it.

On matters political, there's of course been disagreements with Democrat senators from Nebraska, and the very rare Democrat congressman, but never a brush-off, never told that my opinion or feelings didn't matter.

The Democrat U.S. Senator Edward ("the Zero") Zorinsky, in office 1977-1986, once wrote and told me that I needed to grow up, but other than that was always cordial and respectful.

At the time I went to the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants with free medical care for all, Nebraska was represented by two Democrat senators, one Democrat congressman, and two Republican congressmen (a situation long ago rectified).

Due to a transposed telephone number, I evaporated, for six days trying to grope my way through a wockenkuckkucksheim, a cloud cuckoo-land where nothing made sense--an experience I certainly would not wish upon anybody else other than the les risibles and drek primitives--and all five representatives of both parties raised Hell with the U.S. Department of State, wanting to know why I wasn't being found, even though I was leaving all sorts of clues, hints, traces of where I was, or where I had been.

They all raised Hell, but Senator J. James Exon (D) raised the most.

Hi,

i enjoyed reading about your experiences.  In the late 1970's my son got appointed to the Naval Academy by Sam Nunn.  We went to tour the academy and, on a lark, I decided to teach my family a lesson and requested a meeting with Sam to thank him for the appointment.  I figured at best, he would come out of his office, perhaps say hello and we could take a picture.  Quite the contrary, we spent the better part of an hour in his office, we were quite politically aligned and he followed my son's career through the academy (he graduated 2nd in his class).  When Clinton decided to invade Haiti, I wrote Sam and told him to try to talk him out of it.  I got a four page personal response basically saying that he really tried, Clinton would not be talked out of it, so he, along with Jimmie Carter and Colin Powell went down to Haiti and told little doc the planes were in the air and it was time for him to step down....which fortunately he did.  Sam did not mince words.  At the time Sam was the head of the armed services committee and it was very clear how he felt about the president even though both were southern democrats.  It was shortly after that when he announced he would not seek re-election.  That was the beginning of the Zell Miller, etc. group of democrats that all of a sudden went from Blue Dogs to republicans.

I had occasion to spend a couple hours with Senator Connie Mack, the father of the current representative in FL, flew across country with Jack Kemp on a commercial air liner and found them to be very human, real and approachable.  Got some nice letters from both of them.  BTW Connie Mack had some terrific charts explaining supply side economics and the effects and basically predicted the boom that came in the 1990's as a result of the Reagan tax cuts.

I tell you that to reinforce my current anger.  Like your illustrations, they seem historical.  The are so different from what I am experiencing today.  I get little to no response from my congressman, Adam Putnam, a republican, who has announced he will not run for reelection.  Basically he is a short timer and I doubt if he is engaged.  I write senator Martinez (a republican) who has also announced he will not run again and that clown is very supportive of Sotomayer.  While he voted agains the stimulus package he does not speak out at all.......I think he also has what we used to call in the Marine Corps, a short-timers attidude.  Any you are likely familiar with the ongoning crap that I get from the democrat senator, Nelson. 

There was a day I bought into the bullshit that our representatives really wanted to hear from us in congress so they knew how we feel and could represent us.  I am so disillusioned now because I really think they could care less, the country is going donw the drain, they know it, and Nelson is helping to push it along and they flat do not seem to care.

Thanks for listening and the feedback.

regards,
5412

[franksolich]

That, sir, is one of the reasons Democrats, including the superliberal Joseph R. ("Bob") Kerrey have on occasion won elections in this red state.

Constituent service, and treating differences of opinions with respect.

"Constituent service" of course meaning straightening out problems with the various federal bureaucracies, quickly and effectively.

I would just as soon Ben Nelson be replaced by an (R) in the U.S. Senate from Nebraska, but on the other hand, I would be less than honest if I didn't admit his staff are professionals, and professionals who truly care, when it comes to customer service.

Someone here once mentioned the sharp difference between Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) and Evan Bayh (D-Indiana).  This person had some sort of problem with a federal bureaucracy, and contacted both of his senators.  The first one took care of the matter; the second one didn't give a fudge.

[Chump]

When they piss me off, I usually have to remind myself that, "if you 'kill 'em, they don't learn nothing."

Quite true.  However, the ones that follow will have learned something...

[docstew]

Quite true.  However, the ones that follow will have learned something...

If the ones that follow are like the ones that are gone, they CAN'T learn anything...

[5412]

That, sir, is one of the reasons Democrats, including the superliberal Joseph R. ("Bob") Kerrey have on occasion won elections in this red state.

Constituent service, and treating differences of opinions with respect.

"Constituent service" of course meaning straightening out problems with the various federal bureaucracies, quickly and effectively.

I would just as soon Ben Nelson be replaced by an (R) in the U.S. Senate from Nebraska, but on the other hand, I would be less than honest if I didn't admit his staff are professionals, and professionals who truly care, when it comes to customer service.

Someone here once mentioned the sharp difference between Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) and Evan Bayh (D-Indiana).  This person had some sort of problem with a federal bureaucracy, and contacted both of his senators.  The first one took care of the matter; the second one didn't give a fudge.

Hi,

I had a tough philosophical discussion with an old boss of mine years ago and we discussed loyalty.  He contended that his loyalty stops when each and every payday the check clears the bank.  While it may sound very harsh, I have come to believe he is right.  If a member of congress, or their staff, do us a favor,aren't they just doing PART of their job?  When they cash their paycheck they have been paid for doing so. 

I also happen to believe that PART of their job is also to listen to those who hired them and represent them in congress.  Now on a scale of 1-10, personally I would rank the latter as much more important as the former.....but a good member of congress is capable of doing both.

If you feel that your representative is truly representing you, listening to you, and fighting for you and your values in congress, then you are blessed.

regards,
5412

[buddy jack]

I had a tough philosophical discussion with an old boss of mine years ago and we discussed loyalty.  He contended that his loyalty stops when each and every payday the check clears the bank.  While it may sound very harsh, I have come to believe he is right.  If a member of congress, or their staff, do us a favor,aren't they just doing PART of their job?  When they cash their paycheck they have been paid for doing so. 

I also happen to believe that PART of their job is also to listen to those who hired them and represent them in congress.  Now on a scale of 1-10, personally I would rank the latter as much more important as the former.....but a good member of congress is capable of doing both.

You still have the notion they care about their salaries, most Senators are millionaires in their own right.  In their defence, I believe they do care about those who are paying them..you know the corporations and lobbyists that foot the bill for the next election cycle. 

just look to the legislation they pass, it only reinforces that idea.