Quote - People always seem to have this idealistic idea that it's a worthwhile endeavour, but they generally tend to forget the basic fact of political life - to stay employed, politicians do what looks popular, what's "right" is only a vague idea they toss aside the first time they see negative opinion poll results.

No-one wants to do something that will put them out of a job, politicians aren't somehow more "ethical" in that respect than anyone else.  One letter makes no difference to their opinion of how popular they are - neither does a thousand, or a million, because politicians know that less than half of those letters will actually translate into votes come "job evaluation" time, and of the ones that do, more than half of those people will have either forgotten all about the issue, or will let themselves be blindly led along by the nose..

You are at least partially mistaken. And in fact, you have kind of contradicted yourself. You said that all the politicians care about is staying employed (as politicians), and respond to only what is popular, but then suggested even a million letters have no effect.

While there are actions that may at times have a greater impact than simply writing a letter, all the politicians I have known personally, and there have been several, pay a great deal of attention to various communications from their constituents, not so much every individual communication, but the weight of their constituents' opinions. And those who take the time and trouble to write, or call, are understood by the politicians to be the type of people who are also busy trying to persuade their families, their friends, and their neighbors -- some of whom also vote.

Further, though there are always plenty of bad players, there are also politicians who stand up for what they believe and think is right even when it hurts them considerably. Because they do not always have their praises sung for them by the mass media, or only get major coverage when they do the wrong thing, or because you do not agree with their point of view, does not mean they are not often trying to do the right thing, as they see it.

These are not baseless, idealistic opinions, but observations I have made over many, many years. If you want to blame someone for the goings on of representative government, first look at yourself in the mirror. It is political activism, or the lack thereof, that often determines who stays in power and who goes.