August 1, 2007
Are you ready for the Convention?
A First Response
By Stan Dyer
There is an election coming up, but it first it has to go through two conventions. In life, it is a good idea to know who represents your interests and who works for you. In politics, that idea is even more important. That is why I was so pleased at the response to my first letter to Senator Wayne Allard last week.
Oh, no, the Senator has not responded to the letter yet, but many of his constituents did. By the time the 2008 elections are over, so many people will have had their fill of politics and ad campaigns. So many people will not even bother to exercise their franchise. Right now, however, there is a strong interest, and that is good. Denver will be on a national stage next summer, and it will be a pleasure to show the country that this is a civic-minded community that knows its elected officials.
Politics is not about Democrats, Republicans or any of the other political parties. Politics is about people. We do not elect political parties; we elect people. The first political parties in this country were neither planned nor welcome. They just happened. Early leaders of the country knew that such affiliations could be divisive, and they posed a potential hazard to a new nation in need of unity. Unity is just as important now as it was then. That is why we are still the
United States of America.
Last week, we wrote to Senator Wayne Allard. This week, it is Senator Ken Salazar's turn. In the interest of fairness, and to better gauge our representatives on more equal terms, we had to address the same issues. It seems democracy and human rights will be our focus throughout. Here is the letter:
The Honorable Ken Salazar
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Salazar.
Recently, I visited your website to discover your position on the issues of democracy and human rights. Although I did find the website useful and functional as a link between representative and constituent, I also found it vague and uninformative in respect to the aforementioned issues. Specifically, I want to know your position on democracy and human rights.
As a concerned American citizen, I want to know how you and your colleagues are upholding and expanding the vision of America established with the drafting of the Constitution. How are you working to protect American workers and worker's rights, not only in America, but around the world as well? What are you and the other members of Congress doing to nurture the seeds of democracy? Your voters want to know.
I understand that you and your colleagues are very busy people. I thank you for taking the time to address these concerns, and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Stan Dyer
When addressing different personalities, it is difficult to word ideas in a way that not only is fair and unbiased, but also gives a person a chance to express himself in his best light. These letters are meant to attack the issues and not the people. This letter went in the mail yesterday.