E-Mails to Congress on the Rise
Have you ever e-mailed a member of Congress? The odds are increasingly good that you have, according to a new study by the Congressional Management Foundation that found "almost half of adult Americans" -- roughly 100 million -- "contacted Congress in the last five years to support, oppose or learn more about issues of interest to them."
CMF, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that advocates for a more effective and efficient Congress, has been studying communication between citizens and lawmakers for several years. For its latest report, CMF did telephone surveys of thousands of citizens and also conducted focus groups with hundreds of House and Senate aides.
The study is chock full of charts and graphs documenting how Americans get their information about Congress and which types of citizens do and don't attempt to contact lawmakers. The report concluded that "the Internet has become the primary source for learning about and communicating with Congress;" that a majority of people who contacted Congress did so at the urging of a "third-party," usually an "interest group;" and that a large portion of citizens who contacted lawmakers were not satisfied with the response they received.
The report offers a number of suggestions for congressional offices, suggesting that most need to improve their online presence, that they should rethink the way they deal with constituent communications and that they need more staff and resources to deal with the increased workload.
There is plenty more information worth gleaning from the study, but the primary conclusion is that the growth of the Internet has created something of a paradox: Even as citizens have more information available to them and more ways to contact lawmakers, they feel increasingly disconnected from Congress and complain that lawmakers don't seem to care about their concerns.
By Ben Pershing |
June 10, 2008; 10:55 AM ET
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Posted by: kahala | June 10, 2008 1:33 PM
It should be the law of the land that legislators are required to accept, and respond to all email correspondence from consituents.
Such a law should extend to the chairs of commitees conducting the people's business as well.
We know they like to work in a vaccume located insaide the bubble locatedd inside the beltway...but that simply must be stopped.
Posted by: JBE | June 10, 2008 8:10 PM
I have sent over 40,000 emails, many up to 300 pages long, to Congress without response, each day. Why doesn't someone answer?
Posted by: Delusional Constituent | June 11, 2008 12:48 PM
Oh, whether in the State House or in Congress, they make email as difficult as possible - some members actually refuse comments on anything other than their own forms which may not be accessible to all internet users.
Too many legislators seem to think that winning an election means they are above having to respond to the rest of us - I love it when I get the occasional postal response to my call or letter, only to find that they haven't read my comment, or are actually responding to something else. Too many elected officials are in it for the insurance and the pensions.
Posted by: Somebody's Mother | June 11, 2008 5:52 PM
I contact my Congressman via email, but I used to write letters. One thing the email does, it make my correspondence quicker and shorter. I keep my comments short but then again I comment more frequently. The responses are usually generic on certain issues. They aren't as meaningful as when they responded before. Also, I don't have their autographs for my file. Oh well!!
Posted by: CarmanK | June 11, 2008 6:39 PM
I have received numerous (dozens) and very thoughtful responses from emails I have sent to my representatives here in Oregon. Based on my experience, I'm quite pleased with the internet's usefulness in communicating with my representatives.
My only irritation is that most representatives will not respond to emails from people outside their constituencies. That's understandable, but irritating, nonetheless.
Posted by: TheFrog | June 12, 2008 2:23 AM
I know for sure mine hit the can. I tell them the truth...That they are a bunch of useless pigheaded powerhungry jerks that don't care about us the voters (unless its votin time) and are ruining our Country. Jeez, I wonder why they don't let my emails stay around too long?
Posted by: texasgolden | June 12, 2008 2:24 PM
I personally feel that the way they are treating Mrs. Obama is downright disgraceful. We need to dig up more dirt on McCain and give it to Obama to use.I'm not above helping out my side. They play dirty so can I.
ANd for our Senators and Congressmen a lot of our problems could be issues of the Ballot box and we could cut down on those who do nothing. I think it's a great idea what do you think??????????????/
Posted by: Jean K Worthington | June 12, 2008 2:53 PM
To all Hillary Supporters:
NEVER FORGET - NEVER QUIT
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise
This is not the first time you have seen Hillary Clinton seemingly at her wits end, but she has always risen, always risen, much to the dismay of her adversaries and the delight of her friends.
Hillary Clinton will not give up on you and all she asks of you is that you do not give up on her.
There is a world of difference between being a woman and being an old female. If you're born a girl, grow up, and live long enough, you can become an old female. But, to become a woman is a serious matter. A woman takes responsibility for the time she takes up and the space she occupies.
Hillary Clinton is a woman. She has been there and done that and has still risen. She is in this race for the long haul. She intends to make a difference in our country.
She is the prayer of every woman and man who long for fair play, healthy families, good schools, and a balanced economy.
She declares she wants to see more smiles in the families, more courtesies between men and women, more honesty in the marketplace. Hillary Clinton intends to help our country to what it can become.
She means to rise.
She means to help our country rise. Don't give up on her, ever.
In fact, if you help her to rise, you will rise with her and help her make this country a wonderful, wonderful place where every man and every woman can live freely without sanctimonious piety, without crippling fear.
Rise Hillary,
Rise.
HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2008 2:56 PM
I have w mailed both of my Senators, Clinton and Schumer and my Congresswoman Hildebrand, on what I expected of them in voting on certain issues. I have never received a response that wasn't a form letter that thanked me, and then went on to say something else that I couldn't care less about. The only thing these politicians understand is what to say in order to get re-elected. I have told them that I will not vote for them unless they vote for certain legislation, or can give me a specific reason as to why they think voting the way I ask is wrong. JUST THOSE SAME LOUSY FORM LETTER RESPONSES.
It has gotten to the point that I am beginning to feel that all incumbent should be replaced, our government is corrupt from the top down, no wonder we have more people in prison than any other country. And things are going to get much worse before they have a chance to get better.
Posted by: Michael Cohen | June 12, 2008 9:04 PM
Someone wrote:
NEVER QUIT --- NEVER FORGET
Rise Hillary.
AMEN
Posted by: Betty Bullock | June 12, 2008 9:47 PM
Please have the courage to learn the truth regarding information being forced on us by the mainstream press. Check out the United Nations Agenda 21 / Sustainable Development program. All issues including Illegal Immigration, Global Warming, and the very soveriegnty of America is being affected by the United Nations which have no use for our Constitution. Find out who in our Government is giving support to U.N. and that should answer your questions.
Posted by: Robert Berry | June 14, 2008 5:28 PM
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I have sent over 90 emails in a year to my Senators and Congressmen regarding various illegal immigration bills, i.e., amnesty, more border security, drivers licenses to illegals. Guess you can tell I am opposed to illegal immigration and the impact it is having on American citizens. I have heard our representatives do not like receiving our emails -- and only hope they do not just end up in the nearest clerk's trashcan upon receipt.