Do American Politicians really listen, or even care?

We have problems in America
Several months ago, a study was done to determine whether America’s elected officials respond to their constituency. The study revealed something that is completely disgraceful and that is elected officials, once they are in office, will not respond or allow them selves to be held accountable to the very people who put them in office... In short, the government of the United States is a ‘run away government’. Our elected officials are not accountable to anyone for their actions, for how they voted on a particular issue, and they vote frequently against the wishes of their constituency.  They vote for bills that a person’s better judgment should say no to. 

At the time of the findings of the study, I tried an experiment.  I wrote to Senator Norm Coleman and Senator Mark Dayton.  In my letter, I asked 5 point blank questions and they never responded.  I published an article in Pravda.ru about the matter. 

I got an e-mail, standard politician wording, from Mr. Coleman’s office saying that he was now going to use e-mail to keep the citizens of Minnesota informed.  What that means, I don’t know as I do not speak politiciananese.  

What I am going to do is e-mail Mr. Coleman a copy of this letter and the letter below, give him some time to digest it, and I am going to mail the same 5 questions to him.  I will send the 5 questions to him on 7 September 2004.  I feel it is fair that I inform him of what exactly I am going to do – it’s the responsible thing.  I like Michael Moore's style - the ambush, but in this case, I want to be fair. 

I will be doing follow articles on what I find.   

3 September 2004 

The Honorable Norm Coleman

US Senate, Washington, D.C. 

Mr. Coleman; 

I want to thank you for your e-mail regarding your use of e-mail to keep your constituency informed of your workings in the US Senate. 

Several months ago, I sent you an e-mail and I asked you 5 point blank questions.  You never responded and I was not completely happy with that. 

I am now on the editorial staff of Pravda.ru and you will find my name listed on the masthead.  

Pravda.ru, as you might know, is a global news service that is translated into a number of languages.  Our articles and essays reach a significant readership worldwide. 

On 7 September 2004, I am going to e-mail you those same questions that I did several months ago.  This time with a twist: FOR THE RECORD.  You are probably whispering under your breath: “That son of a bitch” – I am a journalist and I am doing my job.   

I am also concerned about the US government.  During the Clinton tenure, that man lied to a grand jury – a felony.  We, as Americans, abruptly found out that the articles of impeachment are not even worth the paper they are written on. The provisions to impeach (fire) an elected official are High Crimes and Misdemeanors.  A felony is a high crime.  

I hope you can see the larger questions looming because I believe the American public, and the world, deserves to know what else we can expect.  Our forefathers apparently felt that they were accountable to the public – sadly, we have lost that. 

I’ve embedded a copy of a piece that I sent off to Pravda.ru about 10 minutes ago.