Some stuff from my local newspaper this morning....
Kj wrote:
“If I decide to vote in a way that’s inconsistent with those who contacted my office, I owe them an explanation,†said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who estimated that about 90 percent of the more than 1,000 calls and emails his office has received opposed military action.
“In all my years of public service, this is just about the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to deal with,†King told reporters Wednesday evening in Maine after returning from two days of briefings and hearings in Washington.
The office of U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, offered a ballpark estimate of 800 contacts on the Syria issue, with most opposed to military action.
Figures for the office of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, were so lopsided they were almost one-sided: 1,134 calls, emails and faxes opposed to the use of military force in Syria, compared to just 21 in favor of U.S. intervention, as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Every one of the people I have talked to said in the plainest words, ‘Please don’t get involved,’†said Pingree spokesman Willy Ritch, who has helped answer calls in the Maine offices.
Representatives for Republican Sen. Susan Collins did not provide numbers on Wednesday but said most of those who have contacted her offices were opposed to military action.
Delegation staffers said most of those contacting their offices appear to be acting independently.
However, there are also clear signs — such as identically worded messages — that groups on either side of the issue are helping organize some of the feedback, even if those groups do not always identify themselves.
Not that Mainers are representative of the population in general, in this instance however it seems that across the map the public is overwhelmingly against any military action in . I can understand law-makers and more particularly military leaders assuming they know better than the average joe about what's best for the security of our country and out globe, but I wonder if they give any thought to the consequences that could be created here at home by simply ignoring the will of the people?