Will Rogers
It has been at least 45 minutes since the last election, and I don't
think the next is due for another hour or two, so I had hoped for a brief
period of going to the mailbox without an elected official popping out.
The constant flow of mail from politicians is enough to make me long for
those golden days when I'd toss the newly arrived mail on the table and
tell my wife, "It's all bills."
Though we're now enjoying a respite from blatant campaign fliers,
local residents have experienced a recent spate of mailers from the guys
who won the last elections. In recent weeks I've received mail from Rep.
Adam Schiff (D-Glendale), Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) and
state Sen. Jack Scott (D-Glendale).
An insecure boy who leaves town for the military might worry that the
only cement in his relationship with the girl back home is the glue on a
stamp. Elected officials operate on a similar premise, trying to keep us
interested from afar. A big difference, of course, is that the soldier
might use simple stationary and stamps he buys at the PX, and he has
competition for the affections of his beloved. But elected officials have
a huge advantage over their competition. Pushing an already strained
analogy to the brink, they've got the girlfriend paying pros to assemble
four-color literature to report on their accomplishments, and she even
buys the stamp! Anyone else who wants to pitch woo, or to simply offer an
alternate view on the official's service, has to pay for it themselves.
A recent mailer from Schiff boasted four photos of him, sprinkled
among brief sentences summarizing some legislation he has introduced or
sponsored. Schiff threw caution to the wind by standing behind the
"Access to Higher Education Act," this as he cosponsored legislation to
give kids better access to immunizations. But the newsletter also says
Schiff somehow found time to support legislation that "updates law
enforcement's abilities to fight terrorism."
Voters dedicated to rolling back law enforcement's abilities to fight
terrorism will be unhappy to read of his success, but that's a risk
officials take by keeping the folks back home informed.
The mailer, billing itself as an "update," also included a survey.
Printed on a post card for return to Schiff's Pasadena office, it has a
list of 10 issues. Recipients are asked to check off or add those issues
they most want Schiff to work on. I chuckled at a note on the reverse
side of the card, the standard notice "postage will be paid by the
