Translation: BUZZ OFF ! 
 

Common Sense wrote:

That is really strange because every time I contact him I get a quick response.
He is doing an excellent job representing York county in Harrisburg..
Thanks Senator Wagner for all you do!

I have written to Governor Wolf about the lack of a budget and never heard a peep from him. 

 
Well, my experience has been that an answer via e-mail was forthcoming from both Wagner & Wolf's offices. I stopped receiving responses fro Stan Saylor over a year ago. From my point of view, Wagner would rather send out his weekly updates and, lately, the text of op-eds that he distributes to news outlets that espouse his point of view rather than spending some time (him or his staff) actually communicating with constituents that take the time to write him. I have to point out that there are some issues that I agree with the position he has taken and I have written him to voice that support. I just think he has come to the point where he is unable to accept constructive criticism.

Common Sense wrote:

How many e-mails do you think they get each day? Hundred's or thousands?
There comes a point when they have to use some type of formatted response. It just becomes impossible to respond personally to each e-mail. That does not mean that what you sent is not read and passed to the appropriate person if needed.

How many people contact them with some type of problem where they (his staff) have to intervene and help them resolve the problem with a State agency.

YDR Editorial board does not like Wagner and they make that clear when writing about him.
I think it absolutely fine for him to respond back to them in the paper. This is a way that many people can get the message he is sending.

If there is an issue that you feel is so pressing try calling them. There will be someone there who can speak with you.

 
It doesn't make any difference to me how many people contact an elected representative. When they were elected they must know that their primary responsibility is to represent their constituents. That is the primary responsibility every elected official and their staffs. Many times the response to a letter from a citizen is a canned response. That is why their contact tab on their website makes you choose the subject matter of your inquiry. Then one of their staff members can pull out the preconceived response letter for that subject, insert your name and address, and presto you have a 'personalized' answer to your question.

Hey, I'm not that naive that I believe this guy reads every letter, ponders over it, and then personally pens a response. I've been writing letters, e-mails, and attending meetings (town hall style & small group by invitation) since the late 1960's. I appreciate your thoughtful guidelines that you feel you need to school me on, but my lengthy experience in political science as related to our representative republic will continue to guide my involvement.

Especially when it comes to our state legislators -- the largest, most expensive, least days working, do nothing legislature in the entire U.S. They have plenty of time to do their jobs, and when they fail to complete their constitutionally mandated tasks, the only excuse they can come up with is that they just didn't feel like doing it. I don't buy that flimsy stupid attempt at an explanation. They owe all of us big time. And we should all expect an answer from our public servants when we question their point of view or advise them of issues that we feel are important.

Common Sense wrote:

He does represent you but you don't like his views on most issues. Right?

Again they don't have the time or people to respond personally to thousands of e-mails, and letters everyday.
Tell me the Congressman or state rep who personally answers ever letter and e-mail?
It's impossible! No one can do that. I know you do not care for Wagner but you did get a response but not the form you wanted.

 
Did you even bother to read my response?

"Hey, I'm not that naive that I believe this guy reads every letter, ponders over it, then personally pens a response."

"Then one of their staff members can pullout the preconceived response letter for that subject, insert your name and address, and presto, you have a 'personalized' answer to your question."

And in my earlier response I stated:

"I have to point out that there are some issues that I agree with the position he has taken and I have written him to voice that support."

So, it's obvious that your prejudicial statements regarding my personal view of Senator Scott Wagner are baseless. I still maintain that it is the primary responsibility of elected public servants to respond to constituents that involve themselves in the process of a representative republic. That is, supposedly, the reason they were elected . . . To represent those citizens in their district, not corporate interests, not partisan political party interests, and certainly not their own selfish interests. If you received Wagner's latest update concerning committee hearings he was involved in (primarily 2016/2017 budgetary hearings) his comments are nowhere near collaborative, cooperative, or seeking compromise. And that is for the 2016/2017 budget . . . They haven't even come close to agreeing to the 2015/2016 budget. The only way that a concerned citizen is able to get a clear idea of what was actually discussed, what questions were answered, and if there is any room for compromise is to watch the entire hearing, not just the self engrandizing clips the Senator yammers about. The main question about this budgetary fiasco we have in Harrisburg is: if you were that far behind on performing one of the primary tasks of your job, do you think your employer would continue to pay you? The answer is "NO". and that is my main beef with a guy that went to Harrisburg saying he was sick of cronyism, non-responsive government, and gridlock in the legislative process. And, guess what . . . He has turned into one of the biggest proponents of all that he went to Harrisburg to correct. And he has apparently decided, based upon the letter from him at the beginning of this thread, that he really doesn't want to be bothered by e-mails, letters, or verbal responses to his 'updates', especially if you have a different perspective from his edicts. He wants you to just read what he says, agree with it, and re-elect him. We get the government we deserve.

But, it sounds as though you are thoroughly satisfied with the job that your elected state representative and senator are doing. For me, doing nothing is not good enough . . . especially when they tell you they are going to do less.

Last edited by Rongone (2/27/2016 3:32 pm)