TD's dont like to read your e-mails

VinLieger

So in recent weeks all TD's have noticed a rather large increase in the amount of e-mails theyve been receiving, specifically on the point of the "SOPA" issue.
So instead of actually reading these or taking into account the opinions and concerns of their constituents they are looking into censoring and filtering the e-mails coming into the Dail
http://www.irishexaminer.ie/ireland/proposal-to-filter-emails-to-tds-183699.html

Yet again this shows the assbackward view and opinion our political representatives have of the internet and how people of a different generation would prefer to communicate with them.
Weve all seen the "keyboard warrior" attitude and the quotes basically saying "I received 5000 e-mails but no phone calls or snail mail so no real people actually contacted me therefore i dont have to care"
Every election we hear how politicans want to engage with the "young vote" and how its a shame younger people dont get involved. Newsflash this is how we engage and get involved, all through digital means, we dont write letters or make phone calls.
Please! join us in the future.

mikemac1

If you don't give your name and address to show you are a constituent they don't care.
I've never contacted a minister

I've sent a few emails, with and without my details and they won't reply unless they know who I am
I've no issue with this at all, seems fair enough. If you're going to contact a TD and make an argument for something then you should stand over it and give your name and address

And the replies I received back have ranged between superb to waffle

But they don't reply by email, they post me a letter instead

woodoo

I think though its probably about time people stopped taking the lazy option of protest and got out on the streets and actually protest.

Yonge Street

woodoo wrote: »

I think though its probably about time people stopped taking the lazy option of protest and got out on the streets and actually protest.

How is standing out in the cold going to achieve anything? Has Occupy Dame Street achieved even one of its ludicrous goals? In a civilized society, a constituent can get their point across in an email/phone call/letter sent to their local TD. They don't feel the need to smash windows and set their city on fire. If the TD fails to address the complaint, don't vote them in next time around. Democracy 101.

woodoo

Yonge Street wrote: »

How is standing out in the cold going to achieve anything? Has Occupy Dame Street achieved even one of its ludicrous goals? In a civilized society, a constituent can get their point across in an email/phone call/letter sent to their local TD. They don't feel the need to smash windows and set their city on fire. If the TD fails to address the complaint, don't vote them in next time around. Democracy 101.

It might have an effect if more than a handful of people turned up.

Protest doesn't have to mean burning cars.

BTW i do email politicians and i get replies. I use my real name.

Manach

When there is a response, it is a standard
"Minister X will be made aware of your email".

That the government seems unwilling to receive feedback that is not based on their own perception filters (civil servants, "special advisors", party polls) bodes ill for their ability to chart the State away from its current problems.

Excellent tip from mikemac1, about giving a full address.

nesf

mikemac1 wrote: »

If you don't give your name and address to show you are a constituent they don't care.
I've never contacted a minister

I've sent a few emails, with and without my details and they won't reply unless they know who I am
I've no issue with this at all, seems fair enough. If you're going to contact a TD and make an argument for something then you should stand over it and give your name and address

And the replies I received back have ranged between superb to waffle

But they don't reply by email, they post me a letter instead

Indeed, giving your name and address is essential if you're going to be taken seriously. They need to know if you're a constituent of their's.

NakedNNettles

woodoo wrote: »

I think though its probably about time people stopped taking the lazy option of protest and got out on the streets and actually protest.

Off you go so, lead the way....

I probably wouldn't read thousands of email either all waffling on about the same ould drivel. Switch that filter on to max.

.........let them eat cake, bloody riff raff!

dsmythy

In fairness they probably get an awful lot of ranting nonsense every day with no name or nothing attached.

Vizzy

dsmythy wrote: »

In fairness they probably get an awful lot of ranting nonsense every day with no name or nothing attached.

Not half as much waffle as they send in to Local Authorities/Health Boards etc making representations on behalf of misfortunates who they know(i.e the Public Rep) are not entitled to whatever they are looking for.All the public rep wants is an e-mail to show their constituent that they made representations on their behalf.

mikemac1

I read years ago that the bould Ivor Callely was at that game

He'd contact a clerk in the planning department and get a list of recent approvals in his constituency. And then write letters to these people as if he worked to get their approval

What a man

Sorry, bit offtopic

Whoever even thought this up should be sacked immediately. They've lost sight of what their jobs actually entail.

thebman

This just shows how broken the system is if local issues are more important than national issues in the Dail.

However, it also shows that the whip system is horribly failing us. They don't even think they should read information or complaints relating to national issues since they just vote with the whip regardless.

That appears to be the reality to me.

CDfm

can you set your message for delivered receipt/ read receipt.

Dannyboy83

I was told this also happened in the case of the cervical cancer vaccine.

DeVore

Well, they're really not going to like me then, lol!

The points made above are all very true. The reason we asked people for their location in our petition is so that the mails can be targeted to their local TDs. We're asking people to put their names and addresses on their mails and tell their td's that they are voters etc.

This will make a difference. They saw what happened to FF , believe me Labour saw what happened to the greens too....

nesf

They're downplaying it today: http://www.thejournal.ie/tds-play-down-report-of-possible-%E2%80%98email-filter%E2%80%99-354239-Feb2012/

walshb

nesf wrote: »

Indeed, giving your name and address is essential if you're going to be taken seriously. They need to know if you're a constituent of their's.

Spot on. You fail to say who you are and where you are from then you deserve the bin.

I always thought this when reading papers where a letter is written and sent in maybe slating someone or some orgainisation and at the end it's signed anonymous. Disgraceful that papers allow this. For someone or some organisation to write in and remain anonymous whilst maybe slagging off someone or something!

Paparazzo

The report quoted anonymous members of the all-party the Joint Administration Committee who said TDs’ inboxes were being flooded by email, much of it “irrelevant”.

Reminds me of my letter box around election time

gremha

I emailed my TD last week requesting a meeting, got a call from his secretary a couple of days later with a time to meet him. So they're not all at it.

CDfm

gremha wrote: »

I emailed my TD last week requesting a meeting, got a call from his secretary a couple of days later with a time to meet him. So they're not all at it.

We could name the good ones ...........

DeVore wrote: »

Well, they're really not going to like me then, lol!

.......and the bad ones.;)

expectationlost

gremha wrote: »

I emailed my TD last week requesting a meeting, got a call from his secretary a couple of days later with a time to meet him. So they're not all at it.

politicians like to use the phone/in person so it won't be recorded, don't want to be nailed down on anything