You know those ‘petition your senator – sign here’ e-mails that you get all the time? Well, maybe you don’t get them because you don’t have a father that sends you every hemp farming or legalization bill on the planet, but at least you know what I’m talking about. Those auto-forms that sign your name, and are sent to your local senator, representative, president, whomever who can actually vote on an issue.
Well, today I received a response.
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein ’replied’ to me with a directly addressed email, addressing the hemp farming bill I had ‘written’ to her about. I use writing and replying loosely, since they are not written or replied in the same context as a normal email, but at least in the same context with relation to each other.
However, this letter was not only pleasant and social, but it reminded me that a bill similar to this was passed twice already in California state legislature, only to be vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. It detailed information, thanked me for writing, and told me she would seriously consider my opinion. She gave me her email, phone number, and invited me to give her a call.
Not only did this seem different from the average reply mail, but it felt as if someone on her staff at least took the time to write a pleasant well informed form letter and sent them out with the intention of CARING about what people say. It also detailed some of the obstacles to this bill, that are unrelated to her office…ways to get something done that might actually help her. It got my attention, and it worked.
I voted for her. But now, I LIKE her.
It doesn’t really matter if she votes a certain way, or she supports or does not support this issue. What’s happened is that now I feel that someone listens, and cares for my opinion…even if they disagree. Isn’t that what we all want in government? I think if more politicians at least feigned interest in their consistuents, we’d be a happier nation.
I’m going to email Dianne and ask her for coffee. You never know…she might reply.
