WRITING TO CONGRESS FOR DONUTS

So lately I've been writing to my Senators (only 1 of whom I actually voted for because I wasn't living here yet when the other 1 was up for election) and my Representative (whom I most definitely did NOT vote for...but nobody warned me I was moving to 1 of the Republican strongholds in IL) just because I figure somebody ought to write to them. I'm sure they get crackpot letters and e-mails all of the time so I try not to sound completely insane when I fire off an e-mail to them. I put it through spell and grammar check on Word before I hit the submit button. I check an on-line thesaurus for alternate synonyms to ensure I'm not using the same word too many times to the point of redundancy. I'm not naive enough to think that they are the ones that are actually reading the rants and raves I send. I'm sure that's what they're staff flunkies are paid to do. But I do try to make them amusing for the reader, whomever that may be.

The last time I wrote to them, I received responses from both Senators (Democrats) and nothing--not even an automated acknowledgement--from my Representative (Republican). Although I know I should not be surprised by the lack of a reply from the elephantine witch, I must admit that I'm a bit miffed by her rudeness and even somewhat taken aback by her utter lack of social graces. I'm sure it's not just a Southern thing to be polite because plenty of people here in IL have been more than kind and courteous to me in every manner. Now maybe it's because I admitted in my letters that I did not vote for her. But you would think she'd want to reach out to me even more to try to win me over or convert me or whatever it is Republicans do. I try not to think about it too much because it kind of gives me the creeps to think about Republicans fraternizing.

Anyway, my point is that when the Senators staff members write back, they are so enthusiastic and gracious that it just gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling all over. For example, the last correspondence I received from one of them included the following verbatim statements: "Thank you for your letter. It is good to hear from you again....I appreciate the opportunity we have had to relay our thoughts to each other, and I hope we can continue this dialogue....Again, Marea, thank you for your message. I look forward to hearing from you again." Now isn't that nice? And then the other one invited me to: "Please stay in touch...If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the Senate is in session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. as we hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your questions. We would welcome your participation. Please call my D.C. office for more details." Wasn't that sweet?

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Marea, they're just trying to ply you with flattery and donuts. And then they'll try to get in your pants. But that's where you're all wrong because I'm neither an intern nor a staffer. They just want me to amuse them with more rants and raves and perhaps some off-color humor. And I'm totally up for that, especially if they're passing out free donuts. Everyone knows free donuts don't have any caloric content. Duh.

Besides, if someone doesn't speak up about the mess our nation is in and the scary places it seems to be headed, how will they ever know what we're really thinking? Have any of you ever been polled for approval ratings and similar hot button issues? I didn't think so. If you'd like to write to your senators and/or representatives and tell them what's on your mind, go to the following links for senators and representatives respectively: www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. It's easy and you, too, might get a fun and interesting response or get totally dissed by the opposing party representation. Just remember, it's all fun and games until somebody loses a right...or something like that.