Really no point in sending letters. They'll just send back a canned response...

My rep is busy preparing a defense for her ethics charges. I don't think she gives a rats azz about her constituents. I wrote her 4 months ago about a request for documents that I need her help with and have had no response.

I had much better luck with our previous representative but when we moved we switched districts. And the previous rep was not a TSA fan. This one, who knows?

I've written my representatives. The results have been quite mixed but nothing to make me excited that some change is in the works...

I don't have a representative that I can write, but I suspect that the myth of TSA being the key to preventing future terrorist actions is so engrained now that the politician who lobbies against TSA will have a very difficult time convincing the public.

I believe that continued education of the masses of the myth and security theatre will do more to change the future.

But writing doesn't hurt.

I spoke with my representative after there was a rash of reports of women with breast prostheses being pulled out of WBI for very public searches of their breasts. He listened some what, wrote a letter to Rossides and that was the end of it.

P.S.

Rossides apparently never replied to him.

My Representative certainly disagrees with me, but he does take the time to write back eventually. I even get personal notes written on the mainly-form letter replies!

What's more likely to get results is arranging a "group visit" to Capitol Hill. Hit up key elected representative offices - the more the better. Perhaps best done in conjunction with the "organized resistance" effort.

A PAC wouldn't hurt, either.

Regular visits of this kind are a key reason that government contractors get business.

I like that idea. The AA employees did that last year.

I've written mine - one didn't respond, the other sent me back a canned nonsense response about wholeheartedly supporting the "vital and important mission of the TSA" - I think I vomited after reading it.

We tried to setup a PAC before and were being advised by a professional lobbyist - who eventually disappeared on us and was never heard from again. I ran out of time and resources to continue it, but I'd be happy to do what I can if we want to try it again.

I think momentum would be on our side this time around - the environment has turned pretty nasty against the TSA over the last 18 months or so.

OK, I'm in EWR land also - who is your rep that he actually responds? The only time mine has ever responded is when I confronted him!

I'd be more than happy to participate in a "group visit."

Wrote mine, canned letter responses missing the points completely.

Call your local party campaign headquarters and ask if the candidate for congress or senate is having a meet and greet in your area. As these are campaign events they are generally not publicized except to party faithfuls and the mailing lists.

You may get to meet your next representative or senator. These are rapid fire events so you will not get a lot of time but the aides that travel with the candidate are often very willing to give a minute or two. You will be encouraged to contribute and you might end up on a mailing list, but most of these do not require a contribution unless there is a VIP speaking.

For example, my representative was making a quick stop in my little town and was accompanied by my current senator that was not running but was helping to get out the support. I intended to go until work got in the way There was nothing about this in the paper until the next morning when they reported on the event. There was nothing announcing the event.

I only knew because a party operative knew my interests and invited me. This is the campaign season and many of the candidates are out meeting people. It is also important to note that it is often easier to meet your next congress critter than your current one.

My congress-critters gave me no satisfaction, spouting off the usual rhetoric.

I've discussed the TSA with my US Rep, but there just wasn't the political will to make the TSA an issue. Written communication there gets handled in the usual way, serving even less utility than waiting to be seated next to my US Rep on yet another flight, running into the person at a farmers market on some weekends, or meeting up at some social gathering.

My written communications to one of my US Senators usually get a form letter or occasionally a personal response (depends on when/how handled), but the other US Senator just barrages me with unrelated junk mail and no responses to the issue whatsoever. In person, neither is willing to do more than just listen and nod their heads in a sort of "ok, whatever" way. The US House member does more than that, even agrees in part, but has bid adieu to the notion that this work of the people is enjoyable, necessary, or even tolerable.

I'm pretty confident that all three of my elected members of the US Congress sort of still believe in the "to professionalize, federalize" belief.

My rep seem to like phone in town hall meetings - anyone have any luck with those? I called in once but did not get a chance to ask my question.