Best way to contact your gov't.

[napi21]

I read a suggestion from a consumer advocate, Stacy Johnson, that helped ME cure a problem I have when writing to my Representatives, and thought it might help you too.


Remember that when contacting your elected officials. If you’re reaching out to them, something is bothering you — probably a lot. But if you want your voice heard, keep it both civil and logical. While it’s tempting to call someone an idiot or suggest they’re on the take, doing so eliminates any incentive they might have to listen to your point of view.

If you were in Congress, which of these two communications would influence your vote?


Dear Mr. Congressman,
I was proud to vote for you in the last election, and used my considerable influence as a local businessman in your district to get as many votes for you as possible.
While I’m still proud of my choice and support, many of my friends and I disagree with the position you’ve taken on the subject of _________.
Here are three reasons:

or


Dear Mr. Congressman,
WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT SUPPORTS _______? No wonder I voted against you and all my friends did too. You should be run out of town on a rail, and next election, you will be, you BUM!

Bottom line? The reason they’re called “representatives” is because they represent us. They can’t do that if they don’t know what we think. So tell them. But as with all communication, the more effectively you do it, the more likely you are to get the result you want.

Bottom line? The reason they’re called “representatives” is because they represent us. They can’t do that if they don’t know what we think. So tell them. But as with all communication, the more effectively you do it, the more likely you are to get the result you want.

I admit I've sent way too many angry emails to my reps. not calling them names but for sure telling them I'll NEVER VOTE FOR YOU! Granted, it would be a lie to say I support you but not in XXXXX position. They're all PUBS and I just don't ever vote for them, but Stacy is right, I have NO CHANCE of being listened to at all if my email tells them there's nothing they can do to gain my favor.

Here's a link to a site to find out how to contact ANY of your legislators at all levels.
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

[struggle4progress]

1. What? Nothing about how to take over a bird sanctuary?

I wrote a letter to Congress once. You know what happened? The government took off the stamp and sent it back marked "insufficient postage." I thought that was really cheesy but I wrote another letter to Congress and I put TWO stamps on it and that one came back too, marked "incomplete address." The address was perfectly clear. It said, TO CONGRESS and then under that it said, IN WASHINGTON USA. Barely two weeks later I got a speeding ticket. You probably want me to believe that's a coincidence. Yeah? Really? I'm not that stupid. I called a lawyer but he just told me to pay the ticket. I don't know why the government does mail anyway. It's unconstitutional. You know what I did? I finally stopped voting. I used to vote like clockwork. Every four years, I'd go stand in line and get a ballot and write NONE OF THE ABOVE across it. It never made any difference. I even tried to vote twice one year but somebody siphoned the gas from my tank and my car ran out on the way. I thought for a while the crooks would notice I'm not voting for any of them anymore. But now I just wonder if anybody cares. If you want to make a difference, take over a bird sanctuary!

[napi21]

2. I've been advised by many to use EMAIL because MAIL is diverted to inspection stations

ever since the anthrax scares a number of years ago. SOMEBODY in their office does read all of them.

[csziggy]

3. Be careful sending email to Tea Party Congress members

When I sent an email to object to the first vote of our newly elected Tea Party Representative, Steve Southerland, I got a nice reply which had nothing to do with the subject of my message or anything in it. But then I began - for the first time ever - to get emails and calls from Republican and right wing groups. Because of the timing it was very clear that the congressman had sold or given his list of active constituents to the right wing groups he supported.

It took me over a year to get off their lists. When Gwen Graham began running against Southerland, I started donating to her. One day I had an inspiration - I began telling the right wing groups that every time I heard from them I would donate MORE money to Gwen Graham. I only had to tell them this three times and then I got no more calls from right wing groups and haven't since.

Since I had signed up for monthly donations to the Graham campaign by then the lack of contacts from the right wing groups didn't hurt her successful campaign.