|
One year ago today, after a visit about healthcare with John Carter's senior office staff, I received the following email from his office:
|
|
|
"Good afternoon Christine,
Thank you for the follow up. We will not be meeting with your group. Congressman Carter’s staff has met with your group on multiple occasions. We understand your concerns. You are welcome to continue writing us with any further concerns."
|
|
|
After one visit with a group of his constituents, (not sure what she meant about 'multiple occasions'), his office refused to make any more appointments for me.
If you were following my story at the time, you know that the visit that prompted the email was a group of 14 women I had organized who went to talk about their concerns about healthcare.
|
|
After receiving the email, I decided to go back with another group without an appointment. He is my representative in Congress, after all, and I did not think it was right to prohibit me from going.
The second meeting was about gun legislation. It ended abruptly when the office manager returned from lunch and cut the meeting short, the same person who had sent me the above email. She told me that I would need to make an appointment in order to bring a group. I mentioned that she had sent an email prohibiting me from making appointments. She nodded and said "asked and answered".
I was quite surprised to have been treated this way by my representative in Congress. The meetings had been non-confrontational, and we saw them as a way to make our voices heard, even if we did not change anyone's minds.
While this is not the only or even main reason I decided to run, it certainly played a role. Our government representatives have a responsibility to listen to us.
If you would like to have a representative in Congress that listens to you, help me get there. Donate here.
-- Christine
|
|
|
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
|
|
|
|
|
