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GradeGov: Reminding Congress Who it Works For

April 30, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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If it's true, as a recent study indicates, that most Americans believe members of Congress care more about their careers than about helping the people they represent, then Americans need a way to regain their attention. Here's one option: GradeGov.com, a site with the reassuring tagline, "They work for you. Remind them."

The site allows users to grade elected officials with the universally understood A through F scale. Grading can be done as often as once a day, which veers from the grade-school system quite a bit.

Site founder Elizabeth Letchworth is a Senate staff veteran. She told Politico that the site will give politicians a sense of constituent sentiment in a much-needed straightforward fashion.

“They’re so busy. And even town halls are now orchestrated to only last an hour, get in and out, five questions. So it’s really hard for them to hear from their constituents in a real way,” she said. “It’s just the way the system has evolved.”

The only note I'd make is that the A-F grade scale is a bit like voters are teachers, rather than hiring managers. If elected officials really work for us, we should break out the performance review. "Check the box for Commendable, Satisfactory, or Needs Improvement." Sections could include Work Habits, Communication, and Supervision of Renegade Party Members.

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You've got to be crazy and/or stupid to vote on health care reform without fully discussing every single sentence in a given bill. The video going around showing a discussion limit of one minute per senator is absolutely absurd. So what if it takes 48, 72, or however many hours to go through it. That is what you are there for. And, if you don't take the time to do it right, chances are that you won't be there next year. There is an awful lot of talk about more "change", and it won't resemble the change we had last October.

BY of NC 11:25AM October 26, 2009

I'm a new fan of Gradegov. The website doesn't care if you are Democrat, Republican, Independant, Communist, or whatever. You can grade any Senator or House member and send them an email telling them what you like or dislike about their policies. The letter also gets posted under their name.
I'd bet that most of these Senators and Representatives claim not to read the comments.....but you know they do. Anyone with the egos the size of Feinstein, Pelosi, Reid, and many others simply can't resist reading what people are saying about them. Them may not respond. They may claim to get the information in the form of a briefing from their staff. But, don't believe it - they not only read their own grades, but they are checking up on the competition as well.
Personally, I've handed out some F's, Some A's and I believe a couple of C's.
I was tired of my Seanators and Representatives ignoring my letters and emails. Let them try to ignore Gradegov. I dare them!!

Ricky Skans of GA 2:42PM September 28, 2009

I use gradegov.com alot for our government is totaly corrupt with enough money anyone can get anything done or into law. The system provides them a way to make money for themselves and that is why they are in there not for America or it's people. Gradegov.com at least gives a way to air our complaints. Congress and Senate care about power and money for them. They are finacial vampires with less integrity and political morales of a child molester. How can they lose 78 million dollars of tarp money. Nobody knows where is it. We have spent/spending enough money to give every household in America approx. an $80,000.00 check (real stimulus). People would by so many big screen TV's, cars, and houses we could not keep up with demand. What did the DEMS do spend the dollars on pork like studing the Coastal Sea Mouse and ok over a million and a half dollars to revamp the Congressman John Murtha airport which has six flights per day. They call it a stimulus bill but it really is just expansion of government and thier control, Hussein Obama's plan to control it all and share the wealth. The Omnibus bill was supposed the stimulate, but only 15% was designated for jobs the remaining 800 billion went for pork and control.
Powell and VP Biden say "get in the game", "paying taxes is patriotic" Congressman Ted Kennedy has his millions stashed in the Caymen Islands since the 80'es(per the news) and pays no tax on it. A 40 year congressman leading by example. Do as I say not as I do. Would you like to have an Obama cabinet job? It appears one of the requirements is to cheat or not pay your taxes.
Our leaders have also been exposed living in NY government housing, keeping $90,000.00 spending cash in the freezer(everybody does that, right) forgot to declare that rental house in the Bahama'es(it was only $75,000) or that property in Ireland. Giving 25 million dollars to another government entity and magically your husband is rewarded with a multi-million dollar government contract(Senator Feinstein). Take your friends to Italy and Shopping trips from one coast to the other on your government supplied plane. The list goes on and on.
They all must go. Wake up America!!!!!

L.T. of IA 8:30AM June 15, 2009

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