A puzzle I can't seem to solve

[lapauvre]

I haven't really seen this topic discussed, but it might have been. Sorry if I missed it.

The "write a letter to YOUR congressman" thing.

Being a "going to vote for a democrat" person, very few of my party's congressmen or senators are in charge of various committees. Like none! When I try to write to those legislators who are in charge of committees, I am always asked if I am a constituent or not. As yet, I have never received a reply from those legislators of whom I am not a constituent.

Legislators who are in control of various committees are responding not only to their constituents, and not acting only on behalf of their constituents, but are the controlling entities of legislature which affects the entire nation.

Such legislators are obviously capable of being influenced, bought, coerced, or led blindly by the guys and gals with money or other charms, by wealthy contributors and/or corporations. Yes, Virginia, there actually is a K Street.

Those of us who are not their constituents are ignored, and there isn't anything we can do about it. IMHO, this is why we have arrived at this rather disgusting distortion of American values.

During the years when the legislation was controlled by the democrats, I didn't have a computer. And, hell, I was doing okay.

The puzzle is, how do we address those holding Chairmanships of Committees whom we did not personally elect, but whose decisions and control we find offensive to us?

If you're not a constituent, they ignore you. They were obviously elected by their constituencies, but they are producing legislation that affects the entire nation.

Anybody got any ideas how to solve this puzzle. Write letters to the Washington Post? Try to find a democratic talk show (ha ha)? Write to a non-right wing magazine and hope it gets published (also ha ha)?

How do we, as a nation, get our viewpoints, our needs, our dissent, our discontent expressed to these Chairpersons?

I really don't know how to solve this puzzle. I hope some of you do.

Thanks.

[onebigbadwulf]

1. Start a revolution

which adopts a mixed member parliamentary system?

[lapauvre]

2. As divided as we have become

as controlled as we have become an actual revolution would mean the end of America. Who would be attacking whom? Just about every group that bears the name "group" in America is ticked off at some other group or groups.

"A nation divided cannot stand?"

We have become so divided that just about everybody who "isn't just like us" has become an enemy.

The poor are hostile to the rich. The rich are hostile to the poor.
The religious right is literally hell bent on destroying anyone and anything that isn't "just like them."

Corporations are exhibiting very little loyalty to Americans who need jobs. The one time power of "labor," which once would have fought for every worker is not diminished to "I want mine and, as long as I've got it, the hell with the rest of you."

Some of our greatest icons, the exciting people to watch, have been living together and procreating without benefit of clergy, but our brain dead video watchers salivate over ever bit of nakedness and irresponsibility and disgrace to what "Family" used to mean. But heaven forbid that monogamous homosexuals be permitted to marry.

The military is misled, lied to, used, in the name of patriotism and their proud heritage, to do things that NO American would condone. But only the little guys get kicked in the butt.

The militia's, those "only true Americans," are prepared to fight off those "black helicopters" that might be needed to save American lives, while indulging in the highest disrespect for "the Government."

The young want the old dead. The old perceive the young as ignorant and selfish. Medical care for the disabled and mentally ill is being cut to the point that Americans have started dying because of budget cuts.

Do you realize how divided we are?

Parliamentary system. Great. If we survived the slaughter of open revolution, we would have to be called The Phoenix States of America. What would be left would only be dirt and ashes and the condition of "might makes right." And that great bird, in this great country, would be a tyrant.

How do we address those who control the committees? How? How do we take them to task as citizens of an entire nation they control, when, if one is not their constituent, they ignore you?