Are politicians supposed to be allowed to tell you "they disagree" with you?

Question

I e-mail my U.S. senators often from the mail lists of Planned Parenthood and NOW regarding women's health and reproductive rights bills. The Republican senator sometimes sends response e-mails presumably written by his office minions; the Democratic senator, nothing (which I deem really no worse than the minion letter). In response to a recent e-mail encouraging him to please hurry up and help put a stop to the disastrous idiocy that is the Iraq war, the senator's return letter informed me that he "respectfully disagrees" and kindly explained that "though we seem to often disagree, I hope you will please continue to write to me."

I thought the way democracy works is constituents elect a *representative* who listens *respectfully and silently* to the constituents' opinions and then tries to act on these opinions - because he is *representing* his constituents.

So are politicians supposed to be allowed to "disagree"? I don’t even give a rat whether my politicians agree or disagree – they’re supposed to take me into account. Why can't they shut up and listen instead of employing automatic regurgitation of party-line bullcrap? Being told that my politician “respectfully disagrees” irritates and bothers me. Doesn’t it bother you? What the crap kind of representative democracy is this?

"Would you prefer he didn't tell you what his position was, and just said 'thanks for writing'?"

Yes, I would. That, more than immediate disagreement, would indicate "listening" and "thoughtful consideration."

And, yes, OK, republic. I can't remember what's different between the republic and the democracy. Still, that's how it's supposed to work, right? That's how we're told it works in school. "Oh, well, it's OK that you only get rich white married Christian candidates from two parties to choose from because they will make their best effort to *represent YOU*!" Apparently they don't really care about "you," huh, since they've already made up their minds.

Answer 1

Yes, they can disagree. They should represent the majority in their state. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. But once they are elected they can do what they want. Just look at Bush. Even if he was the only person who agreed with the war, he would still continue.

Answer 2

Although he/she is suppose to be the representative of your area, your senator has many constituents to hear from. He/she does have the right to disagree with you as long as she/he is trying to the best for their constituents and their country. While I'm sure you have really great opinions and it is amazing that you write your senators a majority of the time, think of how many people they would have to agree with. I'm sure that is why they still want you to write them. They still find your opinion worth reading even if they don't agree and they still want to try and help you in the future.

Answer 3

I'm glad they tell us when they disagree so I know who not to vote for and try to tell anyone who would listen. My first letter was about nukes and my rep or whoever at the time was all for them. So I knew who not to vote for. It's discouraging to know just how many politicians are so greedy and hateful that they think it's unamerican to disagree with the president or to not want troops sacrificed to this war most of us are against or are so stupid that they think it's ok to build nuclear power plants regardless of the tons of waste that builds up. One of the reasons I can't vote for Hillary. Had she just been silent and listened I might have voted for her but would have regretted it. I want our first woman president to be more representative of my values.
I believe celebrities and politicians have the same right and responsibility to speak their views that the rest of us do, but I hope they take what we say into consideration and do a little studying to make informed decisions.

Answer 4

Your Senator is more than allowed to disagree, it is his job until the next election, at which time it is your right to disagree. I understand your frustration since I write those jerks almost every week about some idiot thing they are up to.

One of my Senators was a leader on the Amnesty thing, in my last letter to him I told him since he chooses to go against the voters here, that I would help to make sure the voters here go against him in the next election.

Get involved, throw the bums out, PLEASE.

Answer 5

It does not say anywhere that elected politicians in Congress (or the state legislatures) must behave like servants do their constituents and do exactly what their constituents want. I, for one, do not expect my legislators to behave that way. When I vote for someone, it is because I expect that someone to exercise sound judgment, not behave like some mindless robot and do whatever I say.

Answer 6

What can you say? They're a Republican Senator who doesn't recognize P.P. and NOW. I don't know of any Republican that does.

All I can say is that they're closed minded to ignore something like what you sent them. It's one of the biggest things out there now, and they choose to ignore it, because they can't find any way around it.

Answer 7

Of course -- politicians can both express their personal opinions, and they can state that they don't think your views as what their constituents want.

If you disagree, vote for someone else.

Answer 8

yeah, I think it is called "The Freedom of Speech".

Be glad that they were honest enough to disagree with you. They cannot agree with everyone, I mean, I think they are human too. Unless of course your's was the sole vote that put them in office, in which case I would be totally pissed.

Answer 9

No! He has to agree with ALL of his constituents. Even the neo nazis and the ones who do agree with the war.

Answer 10

This is a REPUBLIC, not a democracy. I am tired of hearing people refer to us as a democracy.