Posted on 11/23/2009 6:47:58 AM PST by 7thson
Below is a letter I am considering sending to my local newspapers and placing on my blog. I would like to solicite comments/advice/recommendations from Freepers before I send it out.
This very fact should be shouted from the rooftops. We did away with this type of special treatment back in the 60's. Only then they were called Jim Crow laws. Remind your Democrat reps that their exemption from this bill is the same as having water fountains for Colored people.
This is for the local newspaper. It is meant to get citizens attention.
Maybe something about “TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!”
as a headline or as a kicker to how they are not representing us.
Still too long — I started skipping through it and I was actually interested in what you had to say. You repeated yourself. Also, if you intend your words for your fellow citizens, address them and don’t talk to them through the politicians.
Can anyone help me compose a list of specific questions that we can use for telephone calls to our Senators? I haven’t gotten anywhere simply calling to express my outrage. I’m sure they simply dismiss me as being a right wing nut job.
So, I want to change my tactics - and ask for a detailed response to specific questions. I am going to call both the local and Washington offices and ask some intern, politely of course, not only listen to my questions, but write them down and repeat them back to me. I’m sure they have caller ID, so they will know who I am anyway, so I plan to give them my phone number and tell them I want a personal phone call from my Senator. I will also send a letter to the editor of my paper asking for my Senators to respond directly and publicly.
I will be happy to compile and share our collective thoughts.
You should send it if it makes you feel better;
but don’t delude yourself by thinking they are going to read it.
Dear Congressman, woman person or whatever you may be:
I will keep this short and simple. I have only three questions for all of you.
1) Do you swear to tell the truth?
2) Have you read the Constitution in it's ENTIRETY?
3) Have you read the Healthcare bill in it;s ENTIRETY?
Awesome. Cut out the last paragraph about the RINOs. While I am in full agreement, it turns the entire letter from conservative citizen view to Republican view. You are 1st and foremost a conservative. It has more impact coming from a nonpartisan, no-one-is-safe perspective.
We WILL vote those RINOs out though.
Great letter.
(Minor correction)
OUTSTANDING letter! WOOOHOOO! Thanks for your continued service to this great nation against domestic enemies.
If you just want to vent, it's fine. But, if you want it to be read, make it short and to the point.
I also say that I believe government taking over healthcare is an actual threat on my life and for them to imagine how motivating that is.
That is why I am writing this. I will send it to my local newspaper - people who say it is too long don't know what I know - my local paper will print it. I want others to read this and get fired up. Even if it gets just a few it is worth it to me.
Good point. Thank you. Yeah, it does not belong in the letter. I covered that in the letter by refering to “their ilk.”
If this is a letter to the editor, it is WAY too long. If it is a proposed op-ed, that’s different.
I suspect a lot of readers will not know what a RINO is. I would re-word that part to say Republicans who betray party principles.
My paper won’t print anything over 300 words.
Can you write it in the Readers’ Digest Condensed Version?
It is not only a matter of whether or not the paper will print it, it is a question of whether or not people will read it. But you know best -- makes one wonder why you asked for comments, advice and recommenations.
I agree with others that it’s too long, and serves better as a letter to the editor.
But my main thought is that your letter is merely a soap box and ballot box effort, and the accumulating evidence suggests that we are far beyond the point where we can hold out much hope along those lines.
It is important to know your enemy. They largely control the soap box and have designs on the ballot box as well. They will make effective attempts over time to control them even more. They have very cleverly rigged the system, and they are ruthless.
The days when a letter like yours would have any effect on people like these is long past. THAT is the truth which most of still have not awakened to. And it is getting late.
I know. I am not prepared for the next step, though.
I agree with everything you said and I understand your frustration.
But, but as someone whose former job was to e-mail and call people to tell them their letters-to-the-editor were too long and had to be edited down to about 400 words — yours IS way too long.
Edit out repeat phases and extraneous words (i.e.”You three”). Once you’ve have established who your letter addresses (the three politicians) in the first paragraph — “You” alone will suffice.
Simplify ... “The three of you, along with the rest of Congress, have fooled a great majority of this nation” could read ‘Congress has fooled a majority of this nation.’
And ... “You ignore our phone calls. You ignore our letters. You ignore our emails” could read ‘You ignore our phone calls, letters and e-mails.’
Exclamation points were struck out in our paper. I understand they emphasize emotion, but to the reader, straight-forward, succinct arguments with less emotion are more powerful.
But, even if you don’t agree with my suggestions, send your letter in. We need more people like you willing to confront our failed political class through every means possible.
The local paper printed the letter. So much for being too long.
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