A COMPLAINT AGAINST MY GOVERNMENT

Ok, first let me say this. As anyone who knows me can tell you I am probably one of the most conservative, pro government and pro military people around. I believe part of my job is to boost people’s morale, not to tear it down and I leave the criticism to other people. But lately I have developed a bone to pick with almost every branch of government.

Mail. Or more accurately any kind of communication at all. Have you tried to write the President or a member of Congress lately? Very hard to do and in some cases they will flat tell you that they no longer accept hard mail anymore because of “THE ANTHRAX SCARE.” Many times they will state that there is a “considerable” delay in mail acceptance and most of the time all you get is a canned response. And how much is “considerable?” We don’t know.

Ok, then can I speech with Senator so and so? Afraid not but you may speak with “CONSTITUENT SERVICES.” Will they be sure to deliver the message? Well we can’t say. Hum. Can you give me an e-mail address? Of course, just go to web site so and so and leave a message. This is by far the best way to contact us.

Really? Do you really read every e-mail you receive? Well, sometimes e-mails do not come through for various reasons and it would be impossible to answer every e-mail we receive.

Ok, so let me get this straight. You may or may not accept mail even though it is considerably delayed. They will not accept phone calls because they are too busy and e-mails are iffy. Then can someone PLEASE tell me how the American people are supposed to stay in contact with their representatives?

Let me give you an example. I contacted the secretary of a Lt. General of the Army to arrange for a telephone interview. The secretary seemed almost offended that I even had HER phone number let alone letting me actually TALK with the General. Well, who are you sir? “Well, I’m an old retired police chief and former Marine and Navy veteran. Afraid I never rose out of the enlisted ranks. Silence.

Ok, my father always told me to never complain unless I had a solution so here it is. ANSWER YOUR DANG MAIL! If you are so afraid to touch it then send it to my house and I will open it and answer your letters for you. (You may not like how I answer them though)

Can anyone tell me when the last Anthrax scare was? I might be a little suspicious but I think there are many people in the government who have used this Anthrax as a means to lessen their workload. And when did we become such “girly men?” Yes there are risks but there are risks in everything. Take a chance folks and just pick up and open your mail. We do.

How about every so often picking up the phone yourself Mr. or Mrs. High and Mighty? How refreshing it would be if you called your Senator and he or she actually answered. Or if you got a return e-mail that actually answered your question and wasn’t just a canned response.

I may be a little older than some of you but I remember my Senator actually returning a call to ME when he missed my first effort at contacting him. Has everyone gotten so much busier than before or are manners a thing of the past?

I know that people like the President would never get anything else done if he signed everything himself or answered his phone. But some of these low level bureaucrats seem to be using this mail thing as a way to circumvent communication and it just angers me.

Anyway my friends, thanks for letting me vent. I got to go now the Governor is on hold.

Chief Steve Newton (ret)

Best reason to return government to the States. A couple of weeks ago my local State Senator had coffee with me. I had an hour and a half to tell him why he was wrong. It is not like I changed his mind but at least I was able to tell him directly.

Best reason to return government to the States

Be careful about that type of thinking around here. The pro 'powerful central government' crowd will have your lunch.

OUTSTANDING

At least he listened.

Steve

Write a Petition for Redress of Grievance and send it Registered Mail. The 1st Amendment guarrantees that right. Address it with his/her full name and require a return receipt. According to the Constitution, he/she must respond. At least it should get someone's attention.

OUTSTANDING.

But a shame we have to do something like that.

Thank you my friend.

Steve