The Old Coot wants to end “Franking.”
By Merlin Lessler
Free postage! (Franking) That’s what we grant
the members of the United States Congress. So they can communicate important
goings on in Washington. Free printing too. I guess it sounded like a good idea
when it started. A small perk, so the men and women we elected could let us
know what they were up to. Back when a three-cent stamp and a mimeograph black
and white letter got the job done. Back before the political office became a
lifetime career, not a few months sabbatical from the work world where they
earned their living.
It’s time to reverse the franking (free
postage) privilege. To give us free postage, so we can let them know what we
expect of them for a change. A chance to express opinions for or against the
latest “bright idea’ kicking around in the cigar smoked, back rooms at the Capitol.
Any letter we send, addressed to congress, should be franked. And, no more free,
one-way communication from them, with free design & artwork, professional
phrasing and glossy printed propaganda, posing as electorate communication,
when it really is campaign propaganda. If they ever get around to doing our
work in the House and Senate, we might then consider reinstalling their
franking privilege.
It's our fault! We let this happen. It’s
called Privilege creep. Starts out small, grows a little each year, and here we
are, paying to be told what a great job they are doing. It’s time for a Franking
change!
Comments – Send to mlessler7@gmail.com
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