I posted this on my Myspace page, only to realize upon checking my regular email that my rebuttal was sent back.  It seems that the mail my "personal response" from my Senator came from is a no reply address.  Upon visiting his site, I found that I have to submit a new request.  While I await a response, I can't help but feel that the political system has failed me. 

Original Entry: 

The following is the response I received to a message I sent the Senator about the Law of the Sea and my rebuttal. Maybe more messages are needed to clear the fog from this politician's head!

Dear Ms. B:



Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. I opposed this Treaty in a vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 31st, and I am happy to explain my position on this matter.



As you know, on October 31, 2007 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Law of the Sea Treaty by a vote of 17-4. This means that the Treaty has passed to the Senate floor where it can be considered by the full Senate chamber.



While I agree that the Law of the Sea Treaty has a number of positive components, I opposed the Treaty because unfortunately its other provisions could undermine our national security. I am particularly alarmed by the fact that international tribunals will be allowed to impose binding judgments on actions taken by our Navy, which will lead to serious constraints on our nation's ability to defend itself. This is especially true in a time when our greatest threats are from terrorists and other unconventional sources. Unfortunately, the performance thus far of the tribunals set up by the Law of the Sea Treaty indicates that my concerns over the impact on our Navy's freedom of action are well-founded.



I am also very troubled by the fact that the Law of the Sea Treaty creates an International Seabed Authority that would enforce aspects of the Treaty. This Authority would be made up of an Assembly composed of the 155 signatories to the Treaty, and a 36-member Council. I am concerned that this Council, like the UN General Assembly, will be dominated by a voting bloc of developing countries who consistently act against U.S. interests.



This situation is especially troublesome because the International Seabed Authority will have the ability to amend the Treaty in the future, which in and of itself presents significant Constitutional issues for our nation. The U.S. has never been a party to a Treaty that is an open-ended document and does not require the approval of the U.S. Senate for its modification after the U.S. becomes a party to it.




It is for all of these reasons that I oppose the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although you and I may agree and disagree sometimes, please know I always appreciate hearing from you and that I value your advice. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I may be of further assistance to you.



Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate



Dear Senator Coleman,

Thank you for your response. While I understand your reasoning to oppose the treaty, I believe this is a cowardly response. If we want to stop global warming and save the Earth's oceans for future generations, we need to act now and diligently.

While this treaty may, more immediately, put the country at risk, I believe it puts the Earth in far more danger to oppose it. I would be willing to risk our temporary security to ensure our survival as a species. It is more important at this time to choose the higher ground. If you oppose everything that will potentially put our country at risk, but will most definitely help reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, then we are surely doomed.

Perhaps thinking about future generations in yours, the Coleman family, and how they might feel about the air and the water quality we've left them would help to change your perspective. It is more important to be a courageous and forward thinker to save the environment for the human species than to be a "politician". Are you not a member of the human race?

We are all the same species. While I agree that there are many who would exploit the world in the name of greed and power, perhaps it is time to lead by example. Instead of rising to the occasion, do something good and kind, even benevolent. The world looks at Americans as greedy, selfish, and lazy. That is far more alarming than a potential risk to security.

Please stop thinking about war and oil and do something about what really matters - the survival of the human species. Please stop standing in the way of those that would save the world for future generations. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,

Catherine B