6 July, 2017
Rep. Dana
Rohrabacher,
101 Main
Street #380
Huntington
Beach, CA 92648
Dear
Congressman,
Re: 100
By my
count, this is my one hundredth letter to you since January 25th,
when the first one was mailed. That’s quite a record, if I may say it myself.
Each one was hand-signed, hand-addressed, and sent in the US mail. In return, I
have received some half dozen boilerplate letters sent via email, but not one
personal response.
I do
wonder what happens to my letters. I am not naïve enough to nurse illusions
about you actually reading them—which is why I post them almost daily on the
blog, The Rohrabacher Letters, and link to the site via social media. The
letters are intended for your eyes, of course; but also, failing that, to raise
consciousness amongst others than yourself. And I’m happy to report that they
have a growing readership. My main purpose in writing them is to do my part to
make a difference here in Orange County.
And still
I wonder what happens to the letters. Their sheer quantity—along with the
hand-addressed envelopes—must surely have attracted the attention of someone in
your office. Just possibly, a member of your staff might have mentioned them to
you? Perhaps even have brought a sample to your attention? What does it mean to
you that a constituent takes the trouble to write and mail a hundred letters in
the course of six months? Does it mean more, or less, than the petitions that
you must receive? Does it speak to you in any personal way? Do you hear the
sense of urgency and commitment that motivates them?
For my
part—I’ll be honest—I’d welcome even a token personal response. Self-importance
aside, I feel that the effort warrants some small recognition other than those long,
tedious, issue-driven boilerplate responses. A signed note, perhaps? We
disagree on virtually everything, but a nod in my direction would suggest that you
actually care about your constituents and their opinions.
Respectfully,
Peter
Clothier, Ph.D.
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