Does it do ANY damn good to write a representative? Help...

[Grown2Hate]

I'm just curious about this, because it seems to me that the answer is NO. And it's discouraging to say the least. My personal example:

I've written to John McCain TWICE about my outrage over this law they're trying to pass through the senate that will allow the FCC to fine broadcasters $500,000 per "indecent" incident. BOTH times I received back a smarmy form letter (although in the second letter I EXPRESSLY stated that I'd like to receive a NON FORM LETTER, and if that wasn't possible, that simply NO RESPONSE AT ALL would be better than a form letter). Well, it pissed me off even MORE, because he assumed I was writing COMPLAINING about "indecency" in broadcasting, and boasted that he helped WRITE the damn legislation that I'm COMPLAINING ABOUT! Has ANYONE ever received a decent letter back from a representative that showed they actually READ your letter? Curious...

[Sticky]

1. Joe Lieberman on MSNBC

said last week he gets over 10,000 emails a week. I wonder if anyone even reads them.

[LisaM]

2. I had the same thing happen - got the opposite response

I wrote Maria Cantwell griping about the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance - I don't think they should be there - and got a form letter back saying she how she was doing all she could to "support" the Pledge. I wrote back quite sharply, and every time I've called her office since, I've mentioned it.

[patriotvoice]

3. Yes, from both Howard Coble and Elizabeth Dole.

http://coble.house.gov/
http://dole.senate.gov/

I almost always agree with Coble (he's a quality NC representative) and almost always disagree with Dole. Both have responded personally to pro and con letters from me.

[demnan]

4. Once

and only from a Democratic Congressman. I've written at least 50 letters in the last 2-3 years to my Congressman and Senators and have gotten similiar responses to yours.

But one time I wrote Congressman Moran to complain about an early Iraq war issue - that they weren't going to bring the dead back to bury - and that seemed to illicit a real response. His letter stated that he would personally work on this issue and I assume he did.

Just because you get an annoying form letter doesn't mean your thoughts aren't taken into account. Also call a staffer in the office. Sometimes the staffers answering the phones are a little more responsive than the ones reading the letters.

[drthais]

5. actually, yes

according to C-Span this morning
and I do not remember the congressman who related this
(seems they were all repugs this morning)
but, the word is
if its a mass mailing or other ananymous thing
it is ignored
but emails and letters and phone calls DO count
because if they have a trend from voters
about a particular issue
they sit up and notice

so
do not dispair

[onecitizen]

13. A personal HAND written letter is.........

always preferred by these guys. I guess it means that you took the time and effort and thought to write it out, stamp it, and put it in the mailbox. I mean I guess that's how they feel.

[Poiuyt]

6. I think it depends on the legislator

and how much he/she is in the back pockets of the lobbyists and PACs. I've written to my senator (Feingold) and received responses that show that he DID read my letters. On the other hand, my representative will write back spouting Bush's line...he isn't able to think for himself.

In your case, McCain is very prominent on the national scene, so it doesn't surprise me that he is only sending you form letters. Still, you'd think he could at least get an aid to write you something a bit more personal.

[Paragon]

7. Letters/phone calls did wonders for recent rules on media consolidation

Really lit a fire under some Congressmen & women who assumed the public didn't know/care about it.

[Pillowbiter]

8. Another thing you may want to try

is to talk to them in person.

I did so with my Representative Elijah Cummings, Dem, naturally.

Check your Reps website and see if he is having any public speaking events or even q&a sessions, and then attend. With freinds if you can, so that numerous people can be called for the same question.

Though it was easier for me, because Mr. Cummings lives in Baltimore and drives to DC, so he is around where I live more often.

PB

[calimary]

11. This is the best idea of all. But writing something is always good.

The WRITTEN WORD. Preferably in a PAPER LETTER as opposed to an email. PAPER LETTERS are best of all. Phone calls are also good. So are faxes - assuming, of course, that you can get through. Not always easy. But the point is, they DO INDEED signal a trend.

One endorsement (among many, I'm sure):

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING...make a phone call or send a paper letter. E-mails are quick and cheap and don't carry the weight of a phone call or a PAPER LETTER. Paul Begala says a hundred paper letters would change the direction of a news program. – DUer grasswire, 5/20/04

VERY important.

Remember the TOLL FREE number to the Capitol Hill Switchboard: 1 (800) 839 - 5276.

Remember these tools as well:

PLEASE NOTE MY SIG LINE – TO CALL YOUR REPS, TOLL FREE!!!

OR, TRY (877) – 762 – 8762. It’ll get you there, too! (Thank you, DUer redqueen!)


Please note, here, The World's Greatest Lists of Media Contacts – updated May 5, 2004– in the following thread:

LINK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1533796#

IF THEY THINK WE DON’T CARE, THEY WON’T, EITHER!


BELIEVE ME, it makes a difference. It adds up. Particularly if it's something tangible that they can hold in their hands and pass around the office and xerox and pin up on somebody's bulliten board. It is far better than emails, although emails help if your other option is to do NOTHING. But there's nothing like the WRITTEN WORD. Remember what the Writers Guild people had on their picket signs during the writers' strike: "In the beginning was THE WORD."

[durutti]

9. Only if you're rich.

n/t

[OneBlueSky]

10. how did you send your letter? . . .

there's a sort of informal scoring system in most Congressional offices . . . e-mails, for example, receive the least attention, followed by FAXs . . . a typed letter sent via snail mail gets more attention than any electronic communication . . . and if you really want a reply, send a hand-written letter . . .

[calimary]

14. Here's something else that worked for me:

I call my reps a lot. I call OTHER PEOPLE'S reps, too. One of 'em is Chuck Hagel - a republican, but not always a knuckle-dragger. I am as likely to call one of them to alert them when I think they've done something good as I do when they've done something schmucky.

So I call Hagel's office after seeing him on Larry King and doing a rather respectable non-accusatory, non-confrontational, non-dump-on-the-Dems job. When the young woman staffer in his DC office picked up the phone, I identified myself as calling from California, and not usually one to call republicans, since I'm a Democrat. I was as nice and non-confrontational as possible. I immediately got to my point - praising him for rising above it and actually making some sense and saying that I was really impressed to hear this nonpartisan stuff coming from one of "them" and that I wished more of his fellow republi-CONS would take a page from him and see the light as he has and talk like he's talking. I meant this in all sincerity - he really did come off like a breath of fresh air. I told her that if other republi-CONS behaved as he did, maybe we wouldn't have such partisan polarization and hate-mongering not only on Capitol Hill but also just in the country in general.

NOTE: Since this was a favorable call, she wasn't as inclined to dismiss it, and she stayed on with me and was very congenial. She took some notes. Chatted with me, and agreed with me. Got her name - Elizabeth. AHA! One of my favorite names (and I told her this). Tried hard to sound like an interested and informed voter, not in-yer-face or ill-mannered or belligerent. She responded in kind. She spent a comparatively generous amount of time with me. In the process, she asked for my name and address, which I gave, because she said he likes to write to people who contact him (left unsaid was - "the way you're doing"). She particularly seemed amenable to the idea of someone from "enemy territory" trying to reach out, as I was, and from what I was saying, as I thought HE was doing, too. I also admittedly played a little dumb, like this was the first time I'd ever tried to call somebody in what I'D consider the "enemy camp" and that I was a little unsure of myself. Tactic: disarmed myself a little bit to provoke her natural inclination to follow suit - non-combatant to non-combatant.

LONG STORY SHORT: Got this lady on my side. Next time I call the office a week or so later, I got Elizabeth again (recognized her voice, identified myself and she remembered me, too). If I hadn't, I would have asked the staffer I DID get - to say hi to Elizabeth and what a nice lady she was. The second time, she said again that he'd probably be dropping me a note because he appreciated people who called (implied here: people who called like I did).

SURE ENOUGH, a couple of weeks later, here comes this personal note on Chuck Hagel's stationery. Just a brief one, an acknowledgment, really. But it was a personal note. His staff now has me in his database. I intend to mention that the next time I call, so they'll likely be already favorably pre-disposed to me.

A little honey instead of vinegar. You might try it, tailored to your own personality and approaches to people. Besides, it's JUST as worthwhile to notify one of these "enemy camp-types" when they DO get behind something good. Positive reinforcement. It works.

[Ezlivin]

12. Always include a check!

I found that when I write my representatives, I get a much better response rate when I enclose a check.

Make sure that the amount is more than $50,000 and is completely correct, but leave off your signature.

They will quickly respond.

[Cleita]

15. It depends on the representative.

My former rep, the Honorable Lois Capps, always answered my questions telling me what she was doing about my concerns, and I didn't have to send her any money. She still sends me newsletters occasionally. My present rep, Bill Thomas of the House Ways and Meetings Committee, is a different matter. If you aren't a Puke or a contributor, he doesn't even send you an electronic, generic acknowledgement that he received your query.

[sangh0]

16. As someone who has personally met with representatives

I can tell you with confidence that those letters do make a difference. Not always, and not with every representative, but the vast the majority pay attention.

[Grown2Hate]

17. Just wanted to thank all who responded...

...You were all very helpful and insightful. Thanks again! And yeah, by the way, I did originally send an email, so that explains the form letter. Thanks again. :)