You know those canned surveys that politicians send out to better serve you (ie: to make sure they are going with the flow of public opinion)? I like to answer them in detail when possible. It is good mental exercise and helps one to think positively about a subject that is often quite negative.
Here is an example. I received this survey in the spring from a State legislator. It was simply a list of boxes to check off if the voter thought the corresponding issue was important. Results obtained in this way can be misleading, however. For example, if one selects education as an important issue, that gives no indication of what the intended solution should be. One voter might feel that the teacher's pay needs to be increased to attract more professional or capable educators, while another might feel that the teachers should be fired en masse and the high school students should take over the elementary teaching positions, perhaps learning something themselves in the process.
Anyway...
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Dear Rep. _____,
I received the enclosed survey yesterday... Please accept my thanks for giving your constituents the opportunity to weigh in on the issues addressed. I think that several of these questions deserve more than a simple check, so with your permission I would like to address them specifically here.
On your question regarding funding sources for public schools, my only concern is that the income tax is too invasive of privacy. I realize that it is widely accepted , but I would view either a property tax or sales tax as preferable. Obviously, there is also the issue of tremendous waste within the public school system, so any increase in funding at the present would merely fuel the problem.
Regarding the reform efforts mentioned, I support all of them.
State government ought to be treated like a business where spending is concerned, although I recognize that this is not current wisdom. The pay raise scandal earlier this year is a perfect example. By the way, I appreciate your opposition to that job.
Election law is desperately in need of reform. I especially encourage you to lend your support to the Voter’s Choice Act proposed legislation you received from the PA Ballot Access Coalition. I would be delighted to see you as a sponsor of that legislation.
Gambling is a plague and a cancer on our society and the sooner this Commonwealth withdraws its support and involvement in it, the better for all of us.
The use of eminent domain is currently seeing shameful abuse around the nation and here in PA. The meaning of “public use” seriously needs definition, and it seems to me that the best way to control abuse of this power is to limit it to actual, direct and necessary public use, rather than simply anything that might improve revenue, view shed or property values.
And regarding Social Security Numbers, the dangerous rate of increase in identity theft alone should prompt a reconsideration of the widespread use of the SSN for identification. It is an extremely insecure form of ID; it is easily stolen and provides the criminal with almost limitless access to other private information. In addition, it is not really an identifier anyway, but rather an account number. And finally, the requirement of SSNs for state issued licenses discriminates against those who have religious objections to the Social Security System by denying them reasonable privileges as citizens of PA. Why would not the same ID required for a U.S. passport be sufficient for state licenses?
I also mentioned property tax reform: this is minor compared to the other points but I strongly believe that failure to pay property taxes ought not to result in the loss of the home. It could appropriately be tied to voting privileges without giving the state a default title to private property, which I believe is patently unjust.
On the issues you listed as potential focal points for state officials, I added Constitutional government, which I firmly believe ought to be the number one priority for every elected official in the Commonwealth. The fact that it has not been for some time only makes the need more urgent.
Overall tax burden – The waste and excessive spending that has characterized Harrisburg for years will have to be addressed before any true tax relief can be considered.
Property taxes – Above
Direction of the economy – This should not be the direct concern of the legislature.
Energy prices – Everyone would certainly like to see lower energy prices, but further interference by any level of government would only serve to exacerbate the problem. Free markets only work if they are free.
Crime/violence/drugs – These very serious problems are simply the logical result of our public school system, which has made the removal of moral inhibitions its number one priority.
Education/schools – They are precisely what one would expect from the lack of moral teaching and the emphasis on selfishness that they promote. If Pennsylvania would take a stand against the Federal courts, and be willing to lose federal funding in exchange for local control and real education, our school system would quickly surpass every other state in the nation, and this could be accomplished with only a fraction of the current level of expenditures. (Homeshoolers have proven this to be true beyond any reasonable doubt.)
Environment/pollution – This is a real problem in the cities, but has been so abused that I honestly don’t know how it should be approached at present.
Morality/Traditional family values – Tradition isn’t enough, sir. Until Pennsylvania is ready to allow God out of the closet, we will unfortunately be forced to deal with whatever else comes out in the best way we can.
Sanctity of life/Abortion – Every human being, regardless of age, is endowed by his or her Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life. Unless their right to life is forfeited by a capital crime, it is the first duty of all government to protect it. I believe abortion on demand is murder. Death as the result of a medical condition, however, is not. Medical technology should never be employed for the express purpose of taking life, but a person ought to have the right to determine to what extent it should be employed to keep them alive.
Traffic/roads/development and Farmland preservation - I support whatever can be done within constitutional limits.
Growth of government – Stop it!
Quality of life issues – Our government has enough to do within its proper sphere to take on such a vague and all-encompassing area of life beyond it.
Medicare/Medicaid programs – These programs are a drain on the state and a classic example of bureaucratic inefficiency, besides being socialistic and un-American in nature.
Prescription drugs – Given the abuse and danger of many of these drugs, their high cost may well be a blessing in disguise. Regardless, the people of this state will benefit more from a truly free market than from any amount of well-intentioned government intervention.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you.
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Simple! Well ... ok. What's amazing is the fact that the Rep. I sent this particular response to actually read it! I've never had that happen before.
