Jason Smith, My So-Called Congressman

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

Saturdays are special here at The Roost because that's when I usually receive the highly partisan and always entertaining email newsletter from my Republican congressman, Jason Smith.   Smith, who once famously yelled at a group of Democratic congressmen that they should "go back to Puerto Rico,"  uses these weekly communications to maintain a strong connection with his district, Missouri's 8th.  The emails are chock-full of photos of various constituents meeting with the congressman, and lots of pictures of livestock and farm machinery.  The weekly newsletters are a critical element in Jason Smith's connection to the folks back home because he never, ever, hosts any town halls or pre-announced public meetings where he could be subjected to the questions and concerns of the people whom he represents.

The only opinions that Jason Smith wants to hear from the folks back home are his own.

This week's newsletter from Congressman Smith offered a clear example of how the politician seeks to conflate his own opinions with those of the public.  Approximately halfway through the newsletter there was an item entitled:  "Do You Support the So-Called 'Green New Deal?'"   Nice wording, huh?  Even in the title of the piece, Smith touts his bias with the words "so-called," an implication that the name of the proposal is misleading.  The item was bordered by a photo a a farm tractor on one side - and a cow on the other.  Classic Smith!

The item continues, "Take the Survey and tell Congress what you think.   The new majority in the US House of Representatives is pushing the $93 trillion 'Green New Deal.'  Tell Congress what you think about this plan."  Then there is a link to the 'survey' which has already been tainted with Smith's personal and party biases - a well as a price tag which Smith's Republican Party undoubtedly drew out of thin air.

The Green New Deal Survey itself has two questions.  The first is:  Do you support the so-called 'Green New Deal?'   Respondents have three choices:  yes, no, or undecided.  Those who choose to answer "yes" or "undecided" are finished with the survey at that point.  Congressman Smith has no interest in  the reasoning behind their opinions.  Those who answered 'no' get a second question, one that explores their specific grievances with the plan.

The second question is:  "If no, what concerns you about the $93 trillion plan?"  (Note the way the GOP made-up figure of $93 trillion has now made it into the survey a second time!)  The persons who are opposed to the 'Green New Deal' may choose any of the following as their reasons for disliking the measure:

• Raising taxes to pay for it
• Its impact on rural agriculture (Presumably worse than the impact of Trump on rural agriculture!)
• The end of air travel. (Really, Jason?)
• Having to replace your cars and tractors
• Energy becoming more expensive
• Being forced to rebuild your home to Washington standards

Scared yet?   That's the whole point of scare tactics like those enumerated in the above list.

The letter then asks respondents for their email addresses and promises all who respond to the survey will begin receiving Smith's weekly newsletter, presumably whether they want it or not.

This is an example of a push-poll, or a survey whose primary purpose is to disseminate a message rather than to collect actual input form the respondents.   The people taking the poll are led to the conclusions that the pollster, in this case Congressman Smith, wants to hear.

The only opinions that people conducting push-polls want to hear are their own.  If Jason Smith had any real concerns regarding what his constituents wanted, he would have asked.  Some of Jason's folks back home do support the 'Green New Deal,' but their opinions don't matter.  The congressman didn't want to hear anything about rising temperatures and sea levels, preserving clean air and water for future generations, providing real affordable healthcare for every American (like the government-funded healthcare that Congress already has), working toward a world powered by renewable energy, paving the way for the post-gasoline era of American transportation, repairing and replacing America's crumbling infrastructure, and providing workers with a living wage.  Things like that do not appeal to a political party funded by big oil, insurance companies, and multi-national corporations - and those are definitely not Republican talking points. 

Congressman Jason Smith, a thirty-eight year old bachelor who sleeps rent-free in his Capitol office, a major job benefit on which he pays no taxes, has paid healthcare and a nice six-figure salary.  He does very well on the government dime, thank you very much, and he works very hard at insuring that the rest of us receive as few benefits from his government as possible.

The world is changing, Congressman Smith.  Americans are no longer willing to sit quietly and let a group of elitist congressmen tell us what we should think about things.  Business as usual in Washington, DC, is quickly coming to an end as new voices are being heard.  Some of us are concerned about the survivability of our planet - whether you are or not - and our voices deserve to be heard, too.

Stuff your push-poll, Jason, and get out in your district and hold some real town halls.  That is where you will learn what your constituents actually think about things - if you want to know what they think.  But if all you want to hear are your own opinions echoing back at you, then buy a parrot!

Do your job, congressman!