shape
carat
color
clarity

Do you know your representatives?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

Anna0499

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
1,638
In this Presidential election year, I wonder how many people actually know/care to know who their Congressional and Senate representatives are. Everyone knows Obama is the Democratic candidiate and McCain is the Republican candidate, but why are so many people disinterested in the other branches of the Federal Government? Why don''t people pay more attention to where their representatives stand on issues? I know most of my peers would not be able to name their representatives and it is quite disheartening. These people arguably play the most important role in legislating most of the issues standing at the forefront of this Presidential election, yet no one seems to care.
33.gif
Seems like incumbents are re-elected around 90% in both Houses...perhaps more change is needed there.
 
Date: 7/22/2008 1:19:34 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady
Some of them yes, we''ve encountered personally including their staff (hubby is a pretty politically savvy guy) and definitely on the city/county level.
That''s great! I really appreciate when people take the time to know who represents them (and are paid to do so), and not just get involved during presidential years.
 
I know them all, both state and federal level reps, and most of the reps in my state who are not elected by my district. I am heavily involved in state politics, and I, too, believe that a lot of change [I think we need TONS of that] needs to come from the lower levels.

Knowing your reps is so important, especially since they are often members of your community. They have some measure of power, and people tend to discount them as being "small potatoes" or unable to do anything. Little do they know how far a phonecall can take the constituent in terms of facilitating the changes they want to see.
2.gif
 
Yep, I sure do know my representatives. Not only my representative in the house but both state senators. I know the staff in the local office and the Washingtion D.C. offices. I even know the representatives in all 6 districts from the Mexico/San Diego border to the upper North County. Representative Bilbray even gave our group a tour in the Rayburn building in early 2007...I know I have a picture somehere. Issa met with us, Boxer and Feinsteins office. Susan Davis and bob filner. The only one who wouldn''t be available in Washington was my rep, Duncan Hunter. But his local office has fabulous people there, even if he is much more conservative that I am. My issues are transpartisan and affect all humans, regardless of class or political identification.
 
It''s great that the PSers that come to this board are well-informed voters and believe in the democratic process at all levels of government. As yuo probably know, my question was not to try and call out any PSers, but to highlight the lack of concern about Congressional or Senate elections as compared to the Presidential one. I do realize the importance of the Commander-in-Chief, but I think a lot of people are misinformed about how our checks-and-balances government actually works...I think many people believe it''s one man independently directing the entire country. Hopefully more people are like you all and realize the power they can have in choosing their own state and federal officials, who are much more likely to listen to their concerns and ideally carry them to the state capital or D.C.
 
Yes. Unfortunately one of our senators'' mentally disabled daughter lives here in my condo complex, and SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE. I have her father''s D.C. cell phone number. Yup.

Not to mention the mayor, congressmen, and others...
 
I know our Congressmen including surrounding areas and both senators - one of course more famous than Dick Durbin :-) as well as our state assembly members. I contact their offices on a regular basis for my job and their golf fundraisers are pretty fun in the summer, too!
 
Agree with everyone. It is also very interesting that so many people in a community have never sat in on one of their own city council meetings. They are lively and more intimate and a lot more fun than watching the sometimes boring meeting on CSpan.

I just don''t believe in "closed hearing" or "closed special sessions'' in local government. Even though they have them, most people don''t know that the record is public and if one is savvy enough can find the mintues of the closed sessions filed away for discovery whereever it is designated. I used a bunch of stuff that I found while working at the City of San Diego that I never knew existed before I became a regular in the law library and just starting curiously looking around through binders.

It''s amazing what information you can find. Although some of what you read will have you
29.gif

Ignorance can be bliss....up until it bites you in the backside.
 
Where we just moved from, I knew the representatives and senators (as well as the local city counsel, mayor, and our state rep) pretty well. I have yet to research the Portland ones, but I've been meaning to read up on them as well as all the issues that are coming up on the ballot in November.
 
Before we were ''redistricted'' (thank you, TX legislature), I knew my US congressman personally. I had campaigned for him, and attended many events and fundraisers. Knew his predecessor, too. My old boss was his campaign manager. Oh, and surfgirl, if you''re out there, they were Democrats.
9.gif
See, I''m not always Republican.
28.gif
 
Haha - we have some very responsible (and well-connected) PSers around this board!
2.gif
I guess I am just disappointed in people my age that I know (mid-20s), who have no idea who their representatives are and probably couldn''t even name one senator. I''m glad that PSers are more knowledgeable than most of the people I know! Luckily, my parents always made sure to vote and to educate us about voting and knowing the issues before doing so.
 
Lol I know what you mean Indy. It''s sad to see people our age (26 here) who have NO IDEA any of that stuff, or even who the vice president is. I think most people know who Bush is.

My dad actually ran for a political spot here in NM twice in the 70s. He''s been really interested in politics since he was a little kid and actually had a HUGE political button collection that he started when he was little. I''ve watched local and national elections since I can remember, and met a lot of politicians.

I wish that other people our age were as exposed to politics as I have been, because it''s a fascinating process. I actually considered majoring in Political Science for a long time. I love the stuff.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top