Do you visit or correspond with your elected officials regarding issues that you

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   lrc7815posted 11 years ago

   Do you visit or correspond with your elected officials regarding issues that you care about?
   
   If not, why not?

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   Michele Travisposted 11 years ago

   Yes!  I have called, and been put on hold.  I have called and told that " so and so" is out of the office.  I have called and left messages.  They have never called back.  I have written, no one has ever written back, well except for the automatic " Thank  you for writing to us, we will write back to you as soon as possible.  Have a nice day!

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Michele, don't give up!  :-)

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      lol,,  you know I don't !!!

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   Jillian Barclayposted 11 years ago

   Of course I do! On the state and national level- I bug them all the time! On the state level, I have always been able to speak to someone, and I usually get a personal call back from my state rep. I also contact them if having a problem with a government agency. Just recently, had a problem with the backlog of Ca. state disability claims- have been sick, unable to work and without a payceck for 8 weeks- My claim was 7 weeks old and still not processed. My state senator's office had the problem resolved within 24 hours. I received the back payments immediately. I suggest that Veterans or anyone else who is experiencing delays with their unemployment or disability payments call their state reps- These people actually have an entire staff dedicated to helping their constituents. Regardless of party, they are awesome!
   My state senator knows from past experience that I am a registered Dem- He is a Republican. On the state level, those differences don't seem to matter, at least with him, and because of his dedication to representing ALL constituents, he gets my vote...
   
   On the national level, I call and email both my Congressman and my 2 Senators. I reach their offices and members of staff. My Congressman has always been unresponsive and he has just lost his bid for re-election-maybe other constituents also got tired of his unresponsiveness...
   My 2 state senators have office staff members that always take the time to write down my messages to the Senators- have almost always received an email in response.
   
   I also have a method that I use to reach Congressional reps from other districts. In their email sections, they usually require a local address (they will not accept emails from non-constituents)- Prior to going on their websites, I find out the addresses and zip codes of their offices. Then, once on the website, I use their own office address as my residence address. Have used this method many times---

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You have wonderful methods!!!

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I love your method for getting past the address issue and will put it to good use.  lol

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   Deb Welchposted 11 years ago

   Yes I have contacted local offices by letter or e-mail - few and far between over the years.  I usually get a reply but not always a favorable outcome.    The issue has to affect me to the point where I feel compelled to voice my thoughts.

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Deb, good for you.  Keep making your voice heard.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 11 years ago

   Absolutely.  I worked around elected officials enough to realize how much importance they attach to responding to their constituents who write to them.  They may not respond the way you want them to, but they do pay attention to their mail.  All my representatives in Washington are from the party I don't support, so I don't expect to change their minds, but they are at least going to know there are people who feel differently on the issues than they do.  I usually end my letter by asking them to represent me too.

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Kathleen, I applaud you.

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   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   Yes, for all the good it does.  I am a bit cynical with our elected officials these days, but I still make my voice heard when it needs to be.  For example, the latest deal with the house not voting on the Sandy relief bill after 66 days. You can bet I and many others had our say about that.
   
   Locally, I have written and gotten better response around issues closer to home.  I think when people take an active interest, at the very least, it has to make the politicians think.

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Christin, good for you!  I think there is a better response for local issues too.

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   xstaticposted 11 years ago

   Yes I do. I have become a regular correspondent with my Congressman and Senator, as well as President Obama's office. I sign petitions, but hearing from individuals means more to them. I urge everyone to contact these people whom we have elected.

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm with you Jim.  I think we have a responsibility to let them know we are here, informed, and involved.

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   botiptonposted 11 years ago

   Yes I do.  Mainly through email but I have attended hearings and commission meetings when important issues are being discussed.  I am not above calling their office and talking to a staff person about my concerns.  I do not care how much it helps or doesn't help because I am doing my part.  If I did not voice my opinion even if it does not work at times I would feel bad because I was quiet.  Yep, they hear from me on a regular basis.

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      lrc7815posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Kudos to you botiption!  I feel the same way.

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   MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

   I don't usually because I work for a state agency and have to be nonpartisan, so I have to be very careful about what I put my signature on. That doesn't mean that I can't have my own opinion, though, and probably if the county wanted to put a waste dump bordering my back yard, I wouldn't be criticized for being active against it. I do sign petitions where my signature will count but be buried among others. However, I wouldn't think of interferring with my husband's right to contact a representative, either state or in Wasington.

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