Email Forwards & Chain Letters - Gross exaggerations

I'm surprised when family & friends send forwarded emails to me. I want to be informed as much as anyone. But I want good & real info.

The first thing I do when I see "FWD:fwd:" in the subject line is hit "delete." One "Fwd:" may get a pass if it passes my next test:

The second thing is to scroll to the bottom of the email. Does it say something like "Pass this on to at least __ friends & ________ will happen." CHAIN LETTER! Hoax. Stupidity. Not worth my time. "Delete"

If it passes those tests, I'll read it...with a skeptical eye.

When the information is good, it often moves me to action. Rarely, though, because 99% of the time it's misinformation.

I have this advice for anyone who receives & is tempted to forward a mass email:

Before forwarding any email, do a quick google search using the word "hoax" with the key words from the email. Usually, you'll find snopes.com or other dedicated sites have already looked into the validity to either confirm or debunk the content of the email.

Today I got an email that came through well intentioned, intelligent family members.

Below the email is my response after some quick research that left me still questioning things.

YOU DECIDE...

From: family & friends

Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:17:53 -0500

Subject: Please pass it on

Dear Fellow American,

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that Congress members could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its' forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ".

My response:

Seems a hoax to me. Congress hasn’t any immunity from its laws. Does it? (!)

Who says that congress members don’t have to pay into social security? Who says they are exempt from sexual harassment prosecution? That’s ridiculous. If they can retire on pension after one term, maybe that should be addressed, or maybe we should all run for congress! But the proposed amendment makes no sense – they are citizens, so it just reiterates keeping things the same as they are.

This seems like an emotional government-hating proposal. My leanings tend to be very conservative, but that’s based on a rational conclusion of issues that always seems to end up on the right. However, just like I don’t care for churches that run simply on emotional energy rather than biblical integrity, I don’t like running politics on bipartisan misinformation. If this can be proved true, then maybe there’s merit. But I know of nothing that supports the allegation that Congress LEGALLY has taken an elite class status. In their own minds, many do believe themselves above the little people, but they have no legal backing to their delusions.

The only point I see in this proposed amendment is to incite fear & anger that is based on a lie. If I’m wrong, I’d like to see the proof that Congress has applied laws from which they are exempt.

Enlighten me!!