My senator didn't read my message either

[MonkeyMonk]

This was my response to my e-cigarette letter: (BTW. Lisa is not my name, he got that one wrong, too)

Dear Lisa:
Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate your taking the time to share your concerns. I am grateful to have so much input from my constituents.
Already, I have worked with my Senate colleagues in Washington to enact legislation that will reinforce the foundations of Illinois. The passage of the stimulus package will create jobs and fix our ailing infrastructure. Along with Senator Joe Lieberman, I have introduced the Enhanced Oversight of State and Local Economic Recovery Act (S. 1064) to provide oversight for activities conducted with money from these stimulus funds. This year we have expanded healthcare coverage for children and pushed for equal pay for working women. The Senate has also taken on special interests to make credit card agreements fair, passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (S. 896) to help stem foreclosures, and the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (S. 454) to streamline defense acquisition and save the American people money.
Along with President Obama, I hope to help fix our broken healthcare system, push to give our children education for their future, and rebuild our weakened economy. We hope to act on comprehensive immigration reform, create green jobs through alternative energy, and support our troops fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan even as we work to bring them home.
Finally, I want to apologize for the delay in my response. I receive an average of 10,000 letters and emails per week from my Illinois constituents. I hope that you will continue to contact me in the future about other issues of concern to you.
It is an honor to serve as your Senator, and I look forward to working for you and our great state in the years ahead. I appreciate the benefit of your perspective, and I will consider your thoughts as they come to the floor of the Senate. If you need anything further, feel free to contact our office at (202)-224-2854.
Sincerely,
Roland W. Burris
United States Senator

 

[WerkIt]

You have to understand the American political game and how it is played. First of all, you must be rich, although having great influence, by being the CEO of Disney or Phillip Morris, will only serve to help you. Second of all, you must donate to the election campaigns of BOTH senators who ran for office. This way, no matter who wins, they will be in your pocket, assuming your campaign donation was large enough to get noticed. If you do all of the above, you will be heard. If not, you will be ignored and they will not even know your name. Sad, but true. Welcome to the United Corporations of America.

 

[skullsoup432]

Here in Michigan I contacted Sen. Carl Levins office by phone. The lady (more like bimbo) I talked to could care less about my concerns. I got the impression I was just another waste of time, an impotent voice.


Ouch, Roland Burris. I feel for you.

 

[WerkIt]

The lady (more like bimbo) I talked to...

......was probably not even in the office, but in a call center in India. Did she speak with an accent?

 

[surbitonPete]

Yup.. send the man a whole wad of money and he might pay some attention to what you have to say.

 

[SS109]

What we really need is our own political lobbyist bugging the crap out of these politicians everyday. We have to find someone that already has the "in" to get our message heard or we are nothing. That is how the tobacco companies have done it. Same with the NRA and the Brady Bunch. It is all done with lobbyist.

 

[HK45]

What we really need is our own political lobbyist bugging the crap out of these politicians everyday. We have to find someone that already has the "in" to get our message heard or we are nothing. That is how the tobacco companies have done it. Same with the NRA and the Brady Bunch. It is all done with lobbyist.

If the only thing the 60's accomplished it put the fear of God into the government. Sadly, it seems, that we have been relegated to sheep without voices. Our small bleats of protest too weak to be heard.

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington would have been mad vapers!

Trivial Tidbit: George Washington made and marketed his own brand of liquor that is still sold today. I bought a bottle once but can't remember where or what the name is but it wasn't bad!

 

[Nate]

I'd say something about Roland Burris, but I've no room to talk...

Still waiting for any response down here in the land Graham and DeMint. I wrote both in the 1st week of May or so. I suppose they've been busy defending their buddy Sanford over hanging SC out to dry with the stimulus $$.

 

[RandallFlagg]

What we really need is our own political lobbyist bugging the crap out of these politicians everyday. We have to find someone that already has the "in" to get our message heard or we are nothing. That is how the tobacco companies have done it. Same with the NRA and the Brady Bunch. It is all done with lobbyist.

I say we (Nicotine users) just sue the government for discrimination. For harassment. For something. This is getting beyond stupid.

We went to WAR over a leafy, consumable plant once.

 

[grndir12]

You can have a meeting with him ya know. I've met with my US Congressman before about an issue.

 

[Vapor Pete]

Did you think your senator would? I wrote three senators three months ago... I didnt even get so much as a form letter with the wrong name. I would have considered that lucky.
Now, if you had paperclipped a check for 1.2 Million to your letter, Im sure you would have gotten a response and perhaps some backing. If we learn anything from this, let us learn that our government needs to be bought. If you cant buy them, consider yourself unheard. Just my opinion.
My best,
-VP

 

[JustMeAgain]

I was talking to my brother-in-law the other day, who lives in Texas, and he said he had been emailing his representative with some concerns he had. He said he got an email from them asking him to not email them!

Can you believe the nerve of these people?

 

[willsgirlie]

this is just ridiculous! I mean REALLY?! I can't believe these people.. seriously. ugh.

 

[Spikey]

Guys... I think a big thing for these guys/gals is that they get VOTES in the future... so saying that you are a member of the "XXXX" Vapers Club makes a difference.. because they know you can influence votes! They asked how many were in our "club".

This is what matters to them. Explain to them that this will affect all the people using this device and all smokers as well (they know that is a reasonably high numbber of their voters).

This is how to get a response. Also... continue to call/write and if they tell you to stop.. tell them if they don't want to listen to you... they can watch it on the 10 o'clock news.

That seems to work

 

[Surf Monkey]

A couple of things about contacting representatives:

1) They get thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of letters each week. It's not realistic to expect them to read and respond to ever one. If they did, they'd never get anything done except that.

2) Writing is about the worst way to get your voice heard. The best way is to call on the phone.

3) Even though email and letters are not the best way to contact a Senator or Congressman, they are all categorized and counted. Representatives pay attention to this kind of feedback, particularly when there's a lot of it on a specific topic. They have staff who look at every letter and email. They don't just ignore them or discard them in the trash.

It's all well and good to be cynical, but it's a good idea to know how your government works before smearing it publicly.

 

[dEFinitionofEPIC]

A couple of things about contacting representatives:

1) They get thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of letters each week. It's not realistic to expect them to read and respond to ever one. If they did, they'd never get anything done except that.

2) Writing is about the worst way to get your voice heard. The best way is to call on the phone.

3) Even though email and letters are not the best way to contact a Senator or Congressman, they are all categorized and counted. Representatives pay attention to this kind of feedback, particularly when there's a lot of it on a specific topic. They have staff who look at every letter and email. They don't just ignore them or discard them in the trash.

It's all well and good to be cynical, but it's a good idea to know how your government works before smearing it publicly.

Are you a mason?

 

[Surf Monkey]

Are you a mason?

Are you capable of discussing anything with out being an insulting douche?

 

[dEFinitionofEPIC]

Are you capable of discussing anything with out being an insulting douche?

Wow. I was just wondering man. There are masons everywhere. Thought I would just ask.

Clearly there is only one "insulting douche" posting here. Get your panties out of a bunch you oversensitive pr*ck.

 

[MonkeyMonk]

SurfMonkey, how about changing my name to a nickname to try to get personal? Can you explain that in terms of how a government works? It would be like changing your name to "Surfy"

Letters should be at least polite and use the correct title and names.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Yeah, you were "just asking" because there was so much evidence to support the idea that I might be a mason. After all, everyone knows that only masons have the first clue about how the offices of Senators and Congressmen conduct business.

Don't try and bull**** a bull****ter, friend.