View Full Version : Writing your Congress Person
Does anyone here ever write/email there Congress Person about current Political Policy?!
I have started doing it and it seems I get a form letter, the only return response I got was from the NC Govenor Rep who helped me with my taxes.
Warrior-Mentor
01-29-2009, 07:34
You need to add VISIT to the list... it's the excpetion, I'm sure. But a well planned meeting with a Representative (and /or their staff) can help the process as well...
They track the letters and phone calls by the way. (500 calls in favor of issue X, 300 calls against issue x, etc)
I have emailed several times over the last 10 yrs. I also receive the canned response a couple times, but no-response about 50-60 % of the time..
My expectations are low,, so I don't feel bad about the responces...
You need to add VISIT to the list... it's the excpetion, I'm sure. But a well planned meeting with a Representative (and /or their staff) can help the process as well...
They track the letters and phone calls by the way. (500 calls in favor of issue X, 300 calls against issue x, etc)
I forgot about that one, my state Rep was Dick Chenney and he wrote up a nice letter for me for entrance to SF.
I don't recall contacting my rep's until this past year, and I have emailed all three of my representatives probably 10 to 15 times in the past 12 months.
Each time I have emailed I have received a response from each.
Soft Target
01-29-2009, 07:47
I have emailed several times over the last 10 yrs. I also receive the canned response a couple times, but no-response about 50-60 % of the time..
My expectations are low,, so I don't feel bad about the responces...
Same experience except once. I contacted both FL senators for help in getting my full 201 file for a court case several years after I retired. Bill Nelson's office not only replied but made St Louis send me my file, incomplete but better than nothing.
I used to contact them. I would hammer out the occasional letter on the typewriter, since e-mail was not yet common. Later, I tried telephone calls. For a time, I used e-mail.
Like others, I got canned responses. Ultimately, I concluded that the effort was largely pointless. Granted, they keep track of the number "for" and "against" an issue - but I'm not at all sure that anything less than a 10:1 ratio with heavy volume gets their attention.
I get the impression that professional lobbying is the only way to get access - so I send in my dues to the NRA, as one example, in the hope they will represent my 2nd amendment interests.
I was collecting letters form all members of congress. I wrote Mc Cain to say I hoped the good people of AZ would continue to send him back to DC...He was the only one who sent and signed a personal response.
I, too, would receive canned answers. The only time I ever got more than that was when I worked for a local newspaper when I first moved to NYC in the late 90s. I had access to them all the time and believe me, they got to know my face and name!!! One of the side jobs I did for the paper was to solicit and create political ads. For somebody who tries to keep up with the machinations of politics, it was like having an open invitation to Hell. LOL But at least, they heard me...both dems and republicans. What results did I get by being in their face? Well, other than trying to avoid me (:D), some actually did listen and regard my words. I did find that by starting at the local level and getting to know councilmembers, it was easy to move higher up their foodchain. It's a game of finesse, gain their trust and respect, and it carries you along to the bigger fish. And I kept my integrity, I never brownnosed my way in, I just remained respectful and forthright.
I have emailed SEN Sanders from the People's Socialist Republic of VT, on numerous occasions, but have only received form replies that had nothing to do with my inquiry.
Interestingly though, I was recently contacted by one of his staffers (who was less than polite) about our efforts to recoup $ for gear not turned in by a soldier who "stopped playing".
Funny where they focus their efforts...
Roguish Lawyer
01-29-2009, 13:50
It would be a complete waste of time, paper and postage for me to write my representatives. My state and federal districts are like 90% Democrat.
Peregrino
01-29-2009, 14:20
The answer is to write the local newspapers and CC the politician. If you're articulate enough to get past the censors you can make waves. It's all about influence, measured in the number of potential voters you can access. The internet is becoming a powerful tool also; witness the effectiveness of the Obama campaign. I saw "becoming" because we (the Conservatives) haven't been as effective in leveraging it. The ongoing battle in the "soft war" is for hearts and minds. Until the current center of gravity shifts, we're going to keep losing ground.
ZonieDiver
01-29-2009, 15:27
I have pretty much given up writing to members of Congress as useless. I haven't had any valid responses since the mid-70's. I had an issue, and wrote to all THREE Arizona Representatives and its TWO Senators. I got a good reply and follow-up from my Rep (good old burro-killing Sam Steiger), but the one who really went above and beyond was a Democrat (old school) from S. Arizona - Morris "Mo" Udall. Since then - form letters.
It would be a complete waste of time, paper and postage for me to write my representatives. My state and federal districts are like 90% Democrat.
I live a bit east of RL and things are very blue over here so there's not much point.
Were I to write an elected official, I'd send it to a member of that official's staff and/or members of the congressional committee's staff that focused on the issue at hand.
Red Flag 1
01-29-2009, 16:07
I was collecting letters form all members of congress. I wrote Mc Cain to say I hoped the good people of AZ would continue to send him back to DC...He was the only one who sent and signed a personal response.
Shades of Barry Goldwater.
I understand that Sen. Goldwater was a HAM radio operator. When he was home, he would listen for MARS calls from soliders in Southeast Asia. He would take the calls from MARS and pay for all phone charges, and flip the swithh with each "over".
RF 1
TrapLine
01-29-2009, 16:11
Like others here, the replies I have received from both Representatives and Senators via email and letter have been canned responses. More often then not the responses outlined issues that concerned them and failed to address the topic of my correspondence. The one exception has been Sen Coleman, but it does not look like he will be sent back to the Hill:mad:.
alright4u
01-29-2009, 17:13
Here in TN, the only man who will constantly reply is Sen Corker. He was a very successfull businessman and understands economics and business. Frankly, I would vote for him for Pres. Corker addresses what you point out, and ; he replies addressing one's concerns with candid answers. He does not write canned letters to me. I find it in stark contrast to Alexander, Frist, and Thompson, who never replied, except to seek money.
Ret10Echo
01-30-2009, 06:07
I have found the State Delegates here to be fairly attentive.
It should be noted that this (the Good) side of Maryland generally votes Republican. This in a state known for its left-ward, uber-rich, socialist leanings.
I have only been here a few years, but have had several opportunities to interface with the State and county officials.
Email responses tend to be personal returns based on the questions. Letters get the immediate form-fill response.
I have had less success in receiving responses from the Federal level.
I just got some response from some emails I sent to several Congress People, even outside my state, those outside my State, directed me back to my State, LoL, I found writing to the Newspaper was more effective, even thou it got me in hot water at work.:cool: