In the United States, Americans tend to "love their Congressman" while disliking Congress as a whole. Congressmen spend gross amounts of money through fund raising and donations for successful campaigns and will often promise a plethora of items and/or services if they are elected. This obligates Congressmen to constituents once elected, and constituents become a priority for Congressmen, as Congressmen seek to offer the best services and around. This essentially allows Congressmen to increase their local credibility and popularity, leading to loyal constituents and reelection. The Congressmen vote with constituents in their respective districts in mind, in an additional effort to please constituents and stay in office. Thus, to please constituents, every Congressmen in the House seems to have a different agenda, one that reflects needs and interests in their respective districts. While Congress divides in attempt to pass legislation and improve the United States, their approach is often flawed as every Congressman wants the "Pork" for his/her district. This basically means that the Congressmen want the money going through to Congress to be directed to their own constituents. Since some districts end up receiving more money than others, along with the fact that Congress has difficulty agreeing on issues because everyone has their own local agendas, American people tend to dislike Congress yet "love their Congressman."
Americans tend to favor their own Congressmen and dislike Congress as a whole. There are many reasons favoring of their Congressman over Congers as a whole occurs. One reason is the voter’s familiarity with their Congressmen. For example, in 2009 Ethel Yarrish criticized Congress saying, “I didn’t like what they were doing in Washington”. But when elections came by Yarrish voted to re-elect both Democratic incumbents, Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Stephen Lynch. Her reasons were, she said because “I know them. I know what they’re like, and they’re sincere people.” Voters know their districts Congressmen and trust them than the whole Congress. Americans like to be comfortable with their Congressmen and if the representative achieves that friendliness than he will be favored. Americans don’t get that “familiarity” with their Congress as a whole and that’s a big reason why they favor their friendly Congressmen than their unknown Congress. Also Congressmen, rather than devoting their time to national issues that the country deals with, they instead focus on the problems that are happening locally to improve their local credibility. As a result constituents feel a personal connection with their representative. Americans in the district will also favor the Congressmen when he brings home the pork (Legislation that allows representatives to bring home the bacon to their districts in the form of public work programs, military bases, or other programs designed to benefit their districts directly). Many of these programs are called earmarks because they are monies that an appropriation designates for specific projects within a members district. Ironically, these programs attract much of the public criticism directed at the federal government in general and the Congress in particular. But with the Congressmen focus on local issues instead of national issues, none of the national problems are being resolved. The American people see this and blame Congress as a whole. Americans think that Congress rarely meet its collective responsibilities, and view congress’s operations as slow, inefficient, and corrupt. With this “bad” image of Congress, American people tend to favor and “like” their Congressmen better than their Congress.
Congressmen have offices in their districts where citizens can contact them with questions and complaints. Virginia's Senator Jim Webb holds meetings around the state called, "Webb sites."
All congressmen offer constituent service, solving problems individual citizens have with the federal government, such as missing passports.
Congressmen can use the FRANKING privilege to send newsletters to constituents reminding them that they are concerned about issues. These cannot be sent 60 days before an election. Any mailings that encourage constituents to vote for the congressman must be paid for with campaign funds.
In the United States, Americans tend to "love their Congressman" while disliking Congress as a whole. Congressmen spend gross amounts of money through fund raising and donations for successful campaigns and will often promise a plethora of items and/or services if they are elected. This obligates Congressmen to constituents once elected, and constituents become a priority for Congressmen, as Congressmen seek to offer the best services and around. This essentially allows Congressmen to increase their local credibility and popularity, leading to loyal constituents and reelection. The Congressmen vote with constituents in their respective districts in mind, in an additional effort to please constituents and stay in office. Thus, to please constituents, every Congressmen in the House seems to have a different agenda, one that reflects needs and interests in their respective districts. While Congress divides in attempt to pass legislation and improve the United States, their approach is often flawed as every Congressman wants the "Pork" for his/her district. This basically means that the Congressmen want the money going through to Congress to be directed to their own constituents. Since some districts end up receiving more money than others, along with the fact that Congress has difficulty agreeing on issues because everyone has their own local agendas, American people tend to dislike Congress yet "love their Congressman."
ReplyDeleteAmericans tend to favor their own Congressmen and dislike Congress as a whole. There are many reasons favoring of their Congressman over Congers as a whole occurs. One reason is the voter’s familiarity with their Congressmen. For example, in 2009 Ethel Yarrish criticized Congress saying, “I didn’t like what they were doing in Washington”. But when elections came by Yarrish voted to re-elect both Democratic incumbents, Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Stephen Lynch. Her reasons were, she said because “I know them. I know what they’re like, and they’re sincere people.” Voters know their districts Congressmen and trust them than the whole Congress. Americans like to be comfortable with their Congressmen and if the representative achieves that friendliness than he will be favored. Americans don’t get that “familiarity” with their Congress as a whole and that’s a big reason why they favor their friendly Congressmen than their unknown Congress. Also Congressmen, rather than devoting their time to national issues that the country deals with, they instead focus on the problems that are happening locally to improve their local credibility. As a result constituents feel a personal connection with their representative. Americans in the district will also favor the Congressmen when he brings home the pork (Legislation that allows representatives to bring home the bacon to their districts in the form of public work programs, military bases, or other programs designed to benefit their districts directly). Many of these programs are called earmarks because they are monies that an appropriation designates for specific projects within a members district. Ironically, these programs attract much of the public criticism directed at the federal government in general and the Congress in particular. But with the Congressmen focus on local issues instead of national issues, none of the national problems are being resolved. The American people see this and blame Congress as a whole. Americans think that Congress rarely meet its collective responsibilities, and view congress’s operations as slow, inefficient, and corrupt. With this “bad” image of Congress, American people tend to favor and “like” their Congressmen better than their Congress.
ReplyDeleteCongressmen have offices in their districts where citizens can contact them with questions and complaints. Virginia's Senator Jim Webb holds meetings around the state called, "Webb sites."
ReplyDeleteAll congressmen offer constituent service, solving problems individual citizens have with the federal government, such as missing passports.
Congressmen can use the FRANKING privilege to send newsletters to constituents reminding them that they are concerned about issues. These cannot be sent 60 days before an election. Any mailings that encourage constituents to vote for the congressman must be paid for with campaign funds.