Shortly after some high-profile terrorist attacks in New York City, the representative branches of the American Government drafted some legislation known collectively as the 'Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001'. I email-ed and snail-mailed the following text to both my senators, and my representative in the House:

						matthew j weaver
						123 Some Street
						Boulder, CO

  The Honarable Mr. (name)
  (address)
  Washington, DC 20510

  Mr. (name),

  I am a constituent in this fine state of Colorado, and I find myself
  gravely concerned about our country's various reactions to those
  condemnable attacks on September 11th.

  While I broadly and unilaterally condemn terrorism and those who
  foster it, I also take very seriously the unique freedoms represented
  by this country -- The United States of America.

  This week, Congress will act on legislation purported to help our
  government control and expose terrorists. Included in this legislation,
  the Anti-Terrorist Act of 2001, are broad changes to the government's
  right to place wiretaps on telephone lines, monitor electronic
  communications, and place so-called 'trap-and-trace' orders on telephone
  numbers.

  While I recognize the need for security, and concede some powers to
  the branches of our government charged with fighting terrorism,
  I fear that we may compromise some of our essential liberties
  while trying to give ourselves a sense of increased security against
  events like those that unfolded on the 11th of last month.

  Please, Mr. (name), show your respect for the basic principles of
  privacy and freedom held so dear by our founding fathers. Oppose
  this Anti-Terrorism act in its current form, and help avoid a slow
  decline into a fascist, big-brother statehood that comes so easily from
  fear.

  It is so important that the people of this country be able to
  communicate freely, openly, and by any means without the
  constant shadow of eavesdropping.


  Thank you for your time and hard work,
  matthew j weaver

So far, the only reply I've received came from Wayne Allard -- and it's priceless. Although I contacted him with some fairly specific concerns, I got a delightful form letter thanking me for contacting him regarding the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States.

The senator took time to insure me that he is pleased with the efforts of President Bush and Secretary of State Powell to gather international backing before bombing Red Cross warehouses, so I guess I should be too. Mr. Allard goes as far to encourage me to continue to write, thanking me for my letter before calling upon God to Bless America.

Senator Allard is a member or chairman of a boatload of committees, and has been appointed to many positions by the Champion of the Mississippi Oppressed & my close, personal friend, Mr. Trent Lott.
I regret only shying away from quoting the 'Honorable' on the front of my envelope.

Anyway, here's the letter (if i ever take the time to write a line-by-line response, I'll post it here too.):