> The EFF's tool [1] only takes a few clicks to use.
Your input is discounted at least in direct proportion to how little you sacrificed in order to provide it. If you really want to make an impression, telephone your representative.
Your input is discounted at least in direct proportion to how little you sacrificed in order to provide it.
One of my college roommates works for a congresscritter. He says, at least for his guy, written letters still have the most impact, followed by telephone calls. He didn't mention faxes.
E-mail and social media are waaaay down on the list because they take the least effort and can be gamed so easily.
Many of my reps have stopped providing phone numbers on their websites. Kinda cowardly, but it allows them to validate emails with addresses that come via their website from actual constituents.
There's an interesting age bias there. My parents write letters, my generation much less so. I don't know if I currently have stamps. Our votes count the same though.
I take issue with the premise that there is anyone who doesn't have time to send a better signal? It takes all of about 4 minutes to call the Capitol offices of your two representatives in Congress. They'll get your name address and you can make it as quick as "I just wanted to let Rep./Sen. so-and-so know that I am for/against HB/SB 1234." and it's done. You will absolutely spend more time looking up their phone numbers than you will on the phone.
You can do this while walking out of the office to the parking lot or metro station.
I've heard this so many times but I'm not sure it is true.
I helped with processing the results of a large government RFC for a large government aid bill (Farm Bill 201?) and the exact opposite was true. There were too many responses to individually read each one so the responses just got bucketed and counted. You could be fine with a one off response but it would be less likely to be bucketed correctly and would still only be counted once per bucket at most.
To cover your bases I would always do the easy one click option and then write the handwritten letter as well.
No, don't! After you've spent the money they'll do whatever they want. Instead, threaten to donate to their opponent if they don't bow to your will, then after roll call you can wire the money to them.
Hehe, the only difference between what you and parent said, is that he is wiring it to their _next_ election campaign. Do it preferably in smaller sums so you can strong arm them multiple times before the next election.
> Do it preferably in smaller sums so you can strong arm them multiple times before the next election.
Really, you want to have a steady stream of payments flowing from you to them. That way, they're accustomed to it, and you always have the implicit threat of suspending the payments. This basically mirrors the structure of an ordinary ongoing personal relationship.
One-time donations, which would reflect an ordinary commercial relationship, don't work well, since the thing that makes them work outside of politics -- conditioning payment on receipt of the good purchased -- is illegal in politics.
I was a little apprehensive, but decided to try this. I called my representative as well as both senators. In all cases (3:30pm on a thursday) I just got a voicemail. I left a short message in each case. Nothing could be easier.
Your input is discounted at least in direct proportion to how little you sacrificed in order to provide it. If you really want to make an impression, telephone your representative.