Brutal Honesty [View all]

[Rainman4u2C]

I have been a lurker/reader here for about 15 years. I have registered and been banned here numerous times for posting unpopular opinions. While I am not hard left nor hard right I guess I am what some would consider Independent. There are some things I agree/disagree with on the moderate sides of both parties. I come here to read and rarely post. This is a great site to get news and opinion from.

With all that said I had a recent interaction that has changed my mind and pushed me more left. I am caught up in a battle with Social Security Disability and was denied on the first application. Upon appeal and reading here someone mentioned that they contacted their reps and they thought it helped. I contacted my reps here in Virginia. Everyone from my county level, state level, Governor, House and Senate. The ONLY ones who responded were Democrats. Tim Kaine's office emailed me back on the same day I contacted him. The whole reconsideration process should take 6-8 months if you're lucky. I contacted Tim Kaine's office at about 2.5 months. Within 4 days of him sending a letter to Disability Determination Services I got another email from him with a letter from Disability Determination Services saying my claim has been approved.

This interaction has nothing to do with the result. The main thing here for me is the ONLY people I contacted that responded were Democrats. Also the fact that republicans care so little about their constituents that they cant even send an auto response? What kind of shit is that?

While this experience isn't going to turn me into a hard left progressive it was a great learning experience about who cares and who does not. If relaying this gets me banned from here that is fine. I just wanted all of you to know my experience and I will be lurking/reading ether way.