Denise Davidson

Lewisburg

On Monday afternoon, I called the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman G.T. Thompson. I asked the person who answered the phone for Thompson’s position on a particular issue. The staff member told me he was unable to share the congressman’s thoughts on issues. This was surprising and I asked to speak with another staff member (assuming that the person answering the call was an intern). He repeated his comment. I remarked that sharing their positions seems to be what the congressman and his staff are paid to do. Then, I asked for the staffer’s name, as is commonplace when interacting with service personnel (and what are congressional staff but “in service” to America?). When I asked for his last name and then initial of his last name, both requests were refused. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was disconnected. This was intentional. He could have returned the call; their telephone equipment show’s the phone number, name of the person associated with the phone and their location.

This is how the congressman serves the people. He has trained his staff not to respond to constituents’ questions. He is not working for the people who pay his salary and benefits. Thompson has gotten complacent. Or, perhaps he’s realized that voters in his district are recognizing he works only to maintain his power.