Why I hate writing to my reps:

[LWolf]

They send me responses like the one below.

I wrote to my reps about the recent judicial hearings. Today I got a response from my republican senator. What do you hear when you read this? What I hear is bolded after each paragraph:

Dear LWolf,

Thank you for your letter regarding the power being exercised by the executive branch of our federal government. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

I never really saw your letter; an assistant opened it and sent you this form letter.

Given events that have taken place during President Bush's administration, the executive branch, including the president and the attorney general, have been called upon to make a great number of decisions to protect national security. While the legislative branch has taken action to give certain executive agencies greater authority to act in the best interest of our nation, we in the Congress have taken great care not to relinquish the powers granted us under the Constitution.

It's a scary world. 9/11 showed us that any values can be compromised for safety. And they have. Aren't you still scared enough to "get" that?

I understand that you have concerns regarding some of the actions taken by the administration. There is little doubt that our nations's greatness is built upon the values we cherish, and our principles of liberty and justice must not be compromised.

Except that I just excused compromising them in the previous paragraph. Our principles of liberty and justice are best demonstrated by voluntarily compromising them to keep us safe. If this is confusing you, remember that war is peace, and that liberty and justice can't be defended if you don't give them up.

While I recognized that a significant number of Americans have differing opinions to those of President Bush, I believe that America is the greatest nation in the world, and much of that greatness stems from our diversity and the ability to express our differences. Rest assured, that I will continue to protect the values and civil rights that define America from threats both home and abroad.

You get to express your differences by writing me a letter that I get to answer with this form letter. I get to express my differences by ignoring your point of view, and acting to support what you oppose. I'm on President Bush's team; I don't want my team prosecuted.

Thank you again for your correspondence. If I can further assist you with this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

What a great job! I get to "assist" people by patting them on the head, thanking them for giving me the chance to disagree with them, and sending them on their way. Life is good.

Warm regards,

Gordon H. Smith

:puke:

I sometimes wonder why I bother to contact my reps. Then I remember that every contact is a tally mark somewhere that they'll look at the next time they campaign. At least while they are campaigning, they might acknowledge voters' wishes, even if they don't do anything about them once the election is over.

He's vulnerable in November. I hope he goes down.

[grannie4peace]

1. yup

that's why i call them . i hate those form letters}( :grr: :mad:

[dbt]

2. For REAL!

Looks just like the non-answers I get from Miz Blank, aka Senator Blanche Lincoln (DINO-Ark). Or the ones I used to get before I gave up on the whole Arkansas delegation.

K & R

[pacalo]

3. I just got a very untimely response from Landrieu about FISA!

Vitter is responsive & more timely than Landrieu, but he's strictly a Rethug party man down the line.

[truedelphi]

4. At least you are getting letters reflecting the issues that you wrote in on.

If I send something to Di Feinstein, I invariably receive a reply to some topic I never even thought of addressing.

Oh well.

[LWolf]

6. I remember that.

I've been in Oregon for 3 years. In California for 37 years before that. I received many similar letters from her.

[truedelphi]

11. Latest letter (and response) to Di Feinstein

Dear Sen Feinstein:

My husband and I are thinking that with the severe downturn to the economy, there might be something to be said for our raising llamas.

But so far as I have heard, there are NO tax deductions for llama raising.

Is this something you would consider? We would really like to try it, as we have sort of done quite well with cats, one of whom even herds the others around the house.

But we won't go about it, until the tax deduction thing is sorted out.

Yrs,
CJS

Dear CJS:

Thank you for the $ 10,000 campaign contribution. As I suggested to you several nights ago (Perhaps at the SF Opera?) I have to APPEAR to be against off shore drilling. But as you are a devoted campaign contributer, may I remind you that sometimes some office holders have to pretend to be for things they are actually against.

Please don't hold it against me.


With appreciation,

Senator Diane Feinstein

[depakid]

5. You think that's bad- you should have seen the response he sent with respect to Mental Health Parity

He wouldn't sign onto to the legislation, and sent empty platitudes instead.

This was while his own son was struggling with depression- and about six months later committed suicide.

Smith rarely missed a chance to pander his grief publicly after that- and though he managed to secure funding for several projects- what did he do when the issue came up under a different guise?

He VOTED TO TAKE AWAY EVERY SINGLE OREGONIAN'S RIGHT TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THROUGH FEDERAL PREEMPTION OF EXISTING STATE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LAWS.

Put simply: Gordon Smith is a despicable human being and an utter disgrace to our state.

[LWolf]

7. You said it best: he is a despicable human being and a disgrace to our state.

Last time I checked, he was polling ahead of Merkely. I hope that changes as we head into fall.

There's not much chance of deposing Walden from the house; I'm in his district. Smith, though, should be vulnerable. This is the race I'm counting on winning.

[depakid]

8. Merkley's getting rolled at the moment

because he's essentially gone AWOL -just like the dry powder Dems that have "challenged" Smith before.

I did manage to see one DSCC ad slamming Smith for being just like Bush- but as usual, Smith's got 20 ads out there for every one the Dem tries to field. And they're deceptive ads as well, making Smith out to be an Obama backing "moderate" while defining Merckley as in ineffective tax and spender.

After Brugerre and Bradbury losses, all one can do is shake their heads as to why the Dems think that they can win that seat by playing the same game.

[LWolf]

12. I'm sorry to read this.

I'd hoped that my perception was just me being cynical.

I've seen those ads. :grr:

[OnionPatch]

9. Mine uses half an email to tell me the formal name of the bill.

The name and number and history of the bill can fill up half an email. "Thank you for writing regarding the "bla bla bla" bill. That bill was sent to the congress on bla bla bla by bla bla bla." Then he'll either say the bill is still in committee and he's not on the committee or "I'll take your opinion into account when I review it."

There is never an answer to any questions or concerns I may have regarding the bill and never anything at all about where he even stands on the bill. Just "this is the bill" and "see ya." Government at its finest. :eyes:

Republican Jerry Lewis is my congressman. Not a comedian, but should be.

[LWolf]

13. They're all patronizing.

If you write with a stance on an issue that is different from what they've done, and will do, celebrate the freedom to think differently, pat you on the head, and explain why they know more than you do.

If you write to support a position they've taken, they write back to pat you on the head and congratulate you for recognizing how awesome they are.

[trof]

10. 3rd rec.

They don't care.
Not unless you're a lobbyist or "pioneer" or some such who can funnel big bucks to their campaigns.
The whole damn system is corrupt and way out of hand.