National Representation & Local Representation

[Proud Liberal Dem]

While I get the notion that Senators and House Members are elected to represent their states/districts in Congress and that they have to represent and be primarily responsive to those states/districts, I find it frustrating that, given that some Representatives and, especially, some Senators have an outsized influence on certain issues and matters of national importance, that people not in their state/district cannot lobby them one way or another. The most prescient current example would probably be Collins & Murkowski (re: Kavanaugh). The vote is likely to come down to one or both of them, but those of us living outside of Maine or Alaska will be unable to directly lobby either one of them to vote against Kavanaugh.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Their oath of office is to the Constitution...

Yes, they represent their states/districts, but their primary responsibility is to protect and defend the Constitution.

I took a very similar oath. I haven't forgotten it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Absolutely true

but yet we are admonished from contacting Senators or Reps from outside our own- or at least Senators and Representatives openly admit that they reportedly do not pay attention to/respond to outside pressure when deciding national issues.