‘I’m going to write my congressman!”
I’ll bet I heard my father say that two dozen times when I was a kid. He was employed by the federal government and I guess he felt like he had a connection to the House of Representatives. I don’t think my dad ever did call that guy, but it got me trying.
Our congressman since 2018 is Jack Bergman and since January 2021, I’ve tried reaching him a few times.
In my role as “Life as I know it” columnist, I’m constantly culling the world for my next column idea. I remember being upset by the happenings of Jan. 6, 2021, and thought I’d reach out to get my congressman’s point of view. I thought that might make an interesting column.
I called his Traverse City office, leaving a message that I’d like to arrange a brief interview. I received an email from a person named James telling me that he was out of the office, but would contact me the following week. I am not sure what happened, but I felt that he must have searched my work and felt uninspired because I never heard back from him.
Since then, I’ve reached out a handful of other times by phone and email. All inquiries for a few minutes of the congressman’s time to answer just a few simple questions. To date, no response.
I’ll be honest here, I find plenty to write about, so my pursuit of congressional response is fleeting. If one thing doesn’t pay dividends, I’m writing about another. That’s how it goes. I could get upset and whine about one of this congressional district’s longest-tenured columnists not getting access to power, but I always let it go because what’s the use?
Besides, sometimes the process becomes the story.
Maybe some of you have had a similar experience. I hope not. I can also totally understand how carving out precious time for a member of the media can be a low priority.
Perhaps you’re wondering what I’d like to ask Congressman Bergman? Well, for example, after the 2020 election, my questions were whether any hard evidence of “fraud” had occurred. Lots of talk had happened, but claims of fraud were going unconfirmed.
After the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, I wanted to ask Bergman what he was doing when the Capitol was breached. I am a substitute teacher in local school districts that routinely conduct active-shooter drills and I was curious to know if the Capitol building did anything similar.
After one election cycle, I was fascinated by the money being raised and spent. I wanted to ask him what resources and how much time is spent preparing for and running a given re-election campaign.
I realize that’s probably proprietary information, but I was still curious.
One question that I think has answered itself, and not in a good way, was that our population seems to have divided itself in ways not formerly seen and I was curious if he had any thoughts, suggestions, or advice. Because I haven’t met with him I assume that he had nothing to offer. It appears none of us do, at least right now.
Recently, with the ongoing governmental shutdown and hiatus prior to that, I was curious as to what his office has been doing while not in session since the middle of last summer. I assume that he and his staff still have duties, but I don’t know.
My father went to his grave having never spoken with his congressman.
I’d hate to think I’m headed in the same direction.