Political Form Letters

Political Form Letters
by Brenda McAlice

In general, politicians are unfeeling robots and their constituents are either completely ignorant, lazy, or simply unable to think for themselves. I’ve had a vague awareness of this frustrating political scene for some time, and have slowly tried to become more involved with making noise to avoid falling into the category of the ignorant or spineless masses. I’ve feebly tried to make a difference by signing up and supporting such organizations as MoveOn, and politicians who share my more liberal views such as Maria Cantwell and Barbara Boxer. I frequently sign petitions, and have been know to e-mail form letters to my representatives asking for them to support whatever viewpoint it is on whatever issue is at hand.

I like to think of my political involvement as a metamorphosis, and at the moment I am in the measly pupa stage. Before now, I have gone from being completely uninvolved to becoming a culprit of using the lazy, click-of-a-button letter to inform my representatives in government of my requests and beliefs. Granted, reading an e-mail and clicking a button is a lot more than most people choose to do to exercise their freedom of opinion, but a lot less than I would like to do in the future. “Why the change of heart,” you ask? The answer lies in a string of e-mails between me and Senator Wayne Allard from Colorado regarding the war in Iraq and withdrawal of our troops.

I know what my stance is on Iraq—I think we had no business going there initially and it is well past the time for us to get the hell out. My thoughts about our government’s motives do not include making Iraq a democracy for the benefit of its people, and anyone who would tell me that this is the reason we are still there would be scoffed at. This is why when Barbara Boxer asked me to send the note below to my senators, I did.

Letter from me (written by Boxer’s staff) to Senator Allard (R-CO).

After three long years, the deaths of more than 2,500 American troops, more than 18,000 wounded, and the deaths of more than 40,000 Iraqis, it's beyond time to bring our mission in Iraq to a close.

The Bush Administration misled us into an elective war that we didn't have to fight. Despite President Bush's mistakes, mismanagement, and mis-leadership, our brave men and women in uniform have performed admirably, successfully meeting every goal that was set for them -- from capturing Saddam Hussein and freeing the Iraqi people to training Iraqi security forces and fostering the creation of an Iraqi government. Now it should be up to the people of Iraq to decide what kind of future they want.

Senators John Kerry, Russ Feingold, and Barbara Boxer have introduced a resolution that calls on the Bush Administration to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq within 12 months or earlier, if practicable. Their resolution also calls for a quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon Marine presence to be deployed in the region.

The Bush Administration's open-ended commitment in Iraq is not only causing death and destruction to our brave troops, it's also serving as a catalyst for further terrorist recruitment. It's time for the Iraqis to assume responsibility for their own country.

We can't afford to lose more American lives over a failed policy -- especially when our men and women in uniform have done everything we've asked of them.

I urge you to support the Kerry/Feingold/Boxer resolution to redeploy troops from Iraq within 12 months and bring the war to a close.

Equally Canned Response for Allard’s Camp:

Ms. Brenda McAlice
Pennsylvania St
Denver, Colorado  80203-3158

Dear Brenda:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concern in regards to the
war in Iraq.  I really appreciate you taking the time to write on such
an important issue.

Since the attacks of September 11th, 2001, we and the international community have been united in our effort to defeat terrorism wherever it has taken hold in the world.  Iraq failed to comply with more than a dozen United Nations Security Council Resolutions that required immediate, active and unconditional cooperation with the international community. Based on this information and conclusions independently reached by intelligence agencies around the world, President Bush requested authorization to use military force against Iraq, authorization that Congress overwhelmingly approved.

Since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in April of 2004, American led forces have made tremendous strides in the advancement and development of Iraq. Among the accomplishments, more than sixty percent of eligible voters in Iraq cast their votes for a constitution in October of 2005 and again went to the polling sites to cast their vote for a permanent government this past December. By casting their ballots, Iraqis chose to vote for their own future, demonstrated their desire to participate in an open electoral process, and stood up against years of oppression.

The Iraqi security forces played a significant role in protecting the eager voters and the polling sites. As the American led coalition continues to train and instruct Iraqi security forces, the continual increase in the willingness and capabilities of Iraqi forces to stand up to insurgents and defend their own countrymen is evident. With each Iraqi soldier trained and quipped to carry out the mission, Iraq draws closer to being able to stand on its own and protect its freedom.

None of the accomplishments achieved so far would have been possible without our brave men and women in uniform, who were called by our nation's leaders to perform a noble but difficult task. Nearly 150,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are deployed in Iraq, doing their duty with pride, patriotism, and perseverance. Our success in Iraq has not come without cost. Those who have fallen have served a cause greater than themselves and deserve special honor. My heart goes out to the families whose sons and daughters have made the ultimate sacrifice.

As much as I desire their return, withdrawal of our armed forces at this critical time would undermine our activities in the global war on terror and be interpreted as a lack of resolve. It is our responsibility to help bring stability and security to Iraq so millions of Iraqi men, women, and children can enjoy the freedom that we often take for granted.

Again, thank you for writing to express your concerns. Although our views may differ on this important issue, I really appreciate you taking the time to put together such a reflective report. Please feel free to contact me again if I or my staff may be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,
A Wayne Allard
United States Senator

WA:ky

Because of a vendor email problem, this may be a duplicate email. If
that is the case, we apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your
understanding.

I don’t know why I got so pissed about receiving an equally canned letter from Allard as I had sent from Boxer, but I did. It was probably the last two paragraphs that really got me, and the “duplicate” e-mail warning just added icing to the cake. And so I responded, and this time it was not from Barbara Boxer’s pile of form letters.

Response back from me to Senator Allard:

Subject: Iraq—Correspondence From Senator Allard

Senator Allard:

We do disagree completely on this issue, and as I read your response I am disappointed to see that some of your arguments are the exact arguments that politicians used to keep us wrapped up in a losing battle during Vietnam. I do not agree that it is our responsibility to help bring stability and security to Iraq, and I don't believe the intention of our continued interference is "so millions of Iraqi men, women, and children can enjoy the freedom that we often take for granted."

Our intent in this war, as it nearly always is in the US government’s interest in foreign affairs, is purely financial gain.

I continue to be disappointed in your decisions in the Senate and am embarrassed that you are one of the representatives of the state that I so love.

Sincerely,

Brenda McAlice

And with that, I got not response. Well, none that I know of. Surely my phone had now been tapped or at least I’ve been added to some list of people to question if Senator Allard were to be harmed or killed.

With the writing of the last letter, I have also decided to never again use the form letter that is sent to me from Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, or MoveOn. If I care enough about the issue that they desire my support on, I should care enough to at least write in my own points about what and why I am asking for support. At least this will set me apart from the robotic men and women in our government and will help me get to the next stage of my political metamorphosis—being a pupa just isn’t for me anymore. Although this measly contribution to the political scene may not be enough to change the world, at least I’ll have the feeling that I’m moving in the right direction.

Brenda can be reached at brenda@babblog.com.