Really, Joel, what did you expect? (Besides for the obvious - which is what we all would like and that is for an elected official to actually care about their public constituents - not just the private companies that support them. This is true on "both sides of the aisle".)
When I wrote to my senators I received replies just like this. They are simply auto-replies that their email sends out to anyone that writes them an email. All that they really tell you (or anyone else that sends an email) is that your email made it to their inbox. The auto-responder is populated with a pre-configured and generic message that is sent out to all of the email addresses that sent an email that day. You could write ANYTHING to that email address (including complete gibberish) and it would send you the exact same reply. These auto-responders are the reason that so many of us are getting identical replies from certain senators.
They also show why contacting these people by email is so ineffective. They have millions of constituents (literally) and receive a thousand emails a day (again, most likely, literally). There is no way anyone could read through all of them and write an individual response for each one. They would need a HUGE staff to carry out just that one task.
This generic and insincere "concern" for their constituent's complaints, comments, and requests is one reason I have a hard time trusting anyone on either side of the aisle in either the House or the Senate. Listen to them when they are out campaigning. It doesn't matter who they are talking to, no matter that person's concerns the politician ALWAYS says that whatever the topic/concern that the person is bringing up is something that not only is of concern/interest to the politician but is also on their top list of priorities. Essentially, they just tell people what they think they want to hear.
A hand written or typed letter is more effective not because it is more likely to be read, since the Senator or Representative also receives hundreds of letters each day. They are more effective because they produce something physical, something tangible. An email may be "real" in the strictest sense, but psychologically it is easy to ignore since it isn't something that can be physically touched. An email inbox that is filled with 2,000 letters can easily be "cleaned out" in a matter of moments. However, if those same 2,000 letters were to arrive via the USPS it would be (and is) nearly IMPOSSIBLE to ignore.
Emails are okay, people, but printing that same letter and putting a stamp on it is BY FAR way more effective. If these people were getting the same number of printed (or handwritten) letters as they are emails we would be having a MUCH greater impact.
Please, people, even if you are not going to send your letters to USARK to hand deliver, at least send them via the post office. If you REALLY want to get to them, spend the extra money to have your letters delivered with a signature required for receipt. If they have to sign for 200-300 letters a day from us, the message will begin to sink in. Also, please don't stop at just one letter to each of your Senators. There is NOTHING wrong with sending them multiple letters. A letter a week or even two or three a week is great. Try not to send the same exact letter every time. Instead, spread your efforts out a little by taking the time to write a different letter each time and each time highlight and discuss a different aspect of why or how this bill is bad or how it will impact you, or your neighbor, or your local businesses.
One letter is great. Thanks for taking the time and energy to do so, but multiple letters are even better.
There is also nothing wrong with writing to Senators from other states. Sure, they may not really care about your opinion because they don't "represent" you, but this goes back to the idea of having more physical letters for them to look at. Besides, you may be the one that writes the letter that presents the material in a different light that "opens their eyes" and lets them read other people's letters in a more considerate tone. You never know. It can't hurt to try... can it?
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Stay United!
"...I say 'apparently' because despite all our progress she is not at all a tame or handle-able snake and gettting her from that cage would re-start a war.. and we've had a good armistice for several months now."-Gus Rentfro - I love this quote!
