Probably like most of you, I am frustrated and tired of feeling as if my hands are tied behind my back and a rag stuffed in my mouth. I am referring to my attempts to get in touch with senators that are not my state federal Senators but nevertheless, by whichever way they vote, will determine my future.
Yesterday, I got though to Senator Lieberman’s office with no problem. I identified myself from Alabama but also an American taxpayer. I expressed my concern that Senator Lieberman was bending to pressure of bribery and black mail and not listening to the people of America. I was cut off at this point by the aide who curtly told me that this was for his Constituent s only. I reminded her that as an American Taxpayer, I was a constituent since his vote would determine the “health of Americans” and not just Connecticut. That didn’t seem to matter and she suggested rather curtly again, that I call my OWN senators and then hung the phone up in my ear. Of course, I had already contacted my senators. Mercifully they are against the HCR. My intent was to make my voice heard with the ones who could vote either way.
My email to Senator Lieberman did not go through as well, so my point is this: when our Senators are in Washington to determine bills that, of course, affect us all, then we should ALL be considered constituents. Granted we all could not re-elect them to office in their state, but our views should be considered when a bill will affect us.
While the senators are being openingly and shamelessly bribed and blackmailed in front of us, we remain voiceless. Un..be…lievable!!!
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Joy,
Nice first article! Welcome aboard!
I read all the stuff here at PIN, (except for that Chet guy’s stuff- yeesh! Ha!), and this is a great start for you!
Brava!
ps: I live in CT and tried to get through to Joe’s office on Monday, but couldn’t. You got to him on Wednesday. Maybe he knew it was you calling and was intimidated? Good for you.
Funny Donald! Like funny-haha!
By the way, just got your message from last night (I think). Thanks my brotha! One of these days I will learn to keep my phone charged………..NOT!!!!
Anyway, Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your family too!
Oh, and yes, great article Joy and Merry CHRISTMAS to you as well!!!!
Joy,
I know there are thousands of citizens who feel the same way you do, “HELPLESS!” as their country is being taken over by big government.
I wish the senators would vote their conscious (if they still have one).
Then, they might do the decent thing.
Val
Thank you Donald and Merry Christmas to all.
Val, I left an energized gathering of “tea partiers” last evening on a cold rainy night in Alabama. It was standing room only! People are way past concerned and they will not stop until their voices are heard. Time magazine can ignore grassroots tea partiers if they want to as if we did not exist in 2009, but we are alive and WELL. The polls show it and it is in every conversation in a line at the grocery store.
My next article will be explain how this passionate energy can and will work. It is in my head right now, but soon to be in print.
Keep writing and calling your senators, congressman, the president and yes, even those who are not in our states and districts….we must remain a thorn in their sides until there is fiscal responsibility and devotion to this country and its citizens.
By the way, the tea party movement I supported last night can be found at http://www.commonsenseforusa.com (The Common Sense Campaign) and offers an objective to regain our country that is workable.
Thanks Joy! Great read! I’m so glad that you’ve thrown your hat into the PIN writing world! I look forward to reading more.
Your assessment of the whole “constituent” idea is a great one. I have that same frustration and I know that many others do as well. The idea is that Senators are elected to represent the states, so they’re only listening to their statesmen. However, as Donald points out…even if you are a resident of said state, it’s like pulling teeth to be heard. And as you so clearly pointed out, their decisions will affect all of us, and therefore, we deserve to be heard. In my opinion, that shows a lack of integrity. They’re falling back on a technicality to avoid having to listen to our concerns. I don’t care if they represent Timbuktu, if their vote is going to affect me, they darn well better take the time to hear me. And if not, I’ll work hard to help get a real person, who cares about the folks, elected in their place.
I know they need to vote the way their “local constituents” want them to, but they still shouldn’t be turning away the concerns of the rest of America.
I’ve seen broadly distributed requests to contact key lawmakers and I always wondered what the response would be to non-constituents. The response you got from Lieberman’s office is sort of what I would have expected.
Sort of reminds me of the line from Summertime Blues: “I’d like to help you, son, but you’re too young to vote”.