I keep getting corresondence, some electronic, some paper, saying (in one set of terms or another) “We really want your opinion”.
I open it. “Do you think our political adversary is a bad person for killing kittens and sauteeing them in front of their mamas to make disgusting kitten sausage?” “Do you support our wonderful candidate when he says he is in favor of better things for you?” “Please contribute: send $25, $50, $100, $250…”
It’s not so much the presence of this bullshit that pisses me off as the lack of any real equivalent, of ANY of my elected officials bothering to find out what I think of any of the issues they vote on or are contemplating proposing.
I’m so fucking sick of trundling off to the voting machines to pick which blithering idiot I want to make decisions on my behalf until the next term of office.
I’m as worried about the fate of democracy as many of you are, but I’m also really annoyed that this is the freaking pinnacle we managed to achieve in the first place, you know?
Why wait to be asked? Tell them!
We just had a local non-partisan election for town council, meaning the candidates are not running as Dems or Reps.
Our local Republican group posted a “questionnaire” online for the candidates to state their positions on a variety of topics. The topics were largely about national or state issues that our local councilors don’t have any say in, as well as ridiculous ideas like arming teachers.
Despite claiming that candidates responded to the questions, the group didn’t supply the voters with those answers, or even indicate which candidates responded. It was a stupid push-poll, or trolling the libs, or some other complete bullshit posturing that has nothing to do with our local election.
I am a monthly donor to ACTBlue which means I get political spam texts everyday… horrible hyperbole. I block or ‘unsubscribe’ but they still come…it’s annoying.
But I will take phone polls if I have time. I took one recently right before our most recent regional Washington election. Poll started completely normal…very standard “on a scale of 1 to 5…” schools, roads, etc.
Then it got slowly more and more off the rails with stuff like “Do you believe there is a group of elites who secretly control the media” and “Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen”
And when there are actual issues, there’s often no way to point out things like:
Why are you asking me whether I prioritize the environment over jobs when my opinion is that there are lots of jobs to be had caring for the environment, and you ought to be putting money into that instead of into this stupid non-poll?
(Though the one that I particularly hate is “Do you think the country’s headed in the wrong direction?” Both I and a MAGA are likely to give the same answer to that. I think it’s been heading in their direction, and shouldn’t be. They think it’s been heading in my direction, and shouldn’t be.)
You are of course 100% correct and I need to do this more often. Make an appointment with our elected critters, local regional state or national, and come in and explain what my priorities are.
Candidates/political parties/surrogate groups/influencers send you polls to fill out because:
- they want your money
- they desire your opinion so they can develop policies to better serve you, plus get contributions
- it’s to create the illusion that they give a rat’s ass about what you think. Also a fundraising ploy
- to let you blow off steam, which will make you grateful enough to send $$$
- to foster hatred of the opposition, which will cause you to donate money to thwart them
I am intrigued by the OP’s comment about kitten sausage and would be interested in subscribing to his recipe newsletter.