Contacting Your Representatives

Key Takeaways

• If 100% of Americans want somethign passed, then there's a 30% chance it will. But if 0% of Americans want something passed there is still a 30% chance of passing.
• This shows that citizen opinion has an almost insignificant effect on laws getting passed, unlike business interests and economic elites.

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Now this is all good and depressing, but why even have a section for using the system if it’s already broken? The issue is not lack of power, it’s lack of direction. In order to make our government work for us we have to push for key legislative changes to effectly fix our representation.

• Ban lobbying aka legal bribery. For as many dollars that go towards advocating for animal rights (thanks for that propaganda Elle Woods) the largest lobbying groups tend to be private corporations like health providers, insurance, real estate and telecoms. And notice how a lot of those groups represent major issues regular constituents are facing (unaffordable healthcare, unaffordable housing, monopoly prices). Banning lobbying prevents dollars directly influencing policy.
• Ban members of congress from trading stocks: We already have a law for this, it’s called insider trading. But apparently being in charge of passing laws isn’t a conflict of interest according to the law. There is currently bi-partisan support against using their positions to make money and the only arguments against this bill are lawmakers whining that they’re being punished for making money (despite already recieving a hefty sallary, campaign donations, and other fees).
• Destroy the two party system. If you’re tired of the black and white rhetoric on issues then we need to increase the diversity of options in this country. Systems like ranked choice voting would help allow new candidates get a chance to rise up. Third party votes would no longer be seen as “wasted votes”. Surprisingly, the groups most against these policies are groups like Heritage Foundation (remember project 2024) who say it’s all a ruse to get leftists elected.

Read more at voter reform

• Get rid of superpac's hidden money and put more limits on election spending
• Work locally first: We're not going to overtake our national reps instantly, we need to block them at the lower levels.

Contact Strategies

Many people believe their representative will not listen to them because of the district area's party affiliation or history of dismissing constituent issues. While it is true they may not listen to you they are more likely to pay attention to a hoard of dissent. Contacting your representatives is a numbers game. Be a grain of sand in the larger pile.

Quick Tips

• Call, don’t write. If you can go in person.
• Have 1 or 2 talking points max, not a laundry list of complaints.
• Research exactly what you want them to do - is there’s something they can vote to oppose?
• As often as you can demand answers on the record and in public in spaces such as town halls, you want a visible trail to hold them accountable.
• Organize town halls to get your representatives to face your area in person. If they show up ask the real questions. If they don't you can hold an empty chair town hall and make sure fellow constituents know about it. Learn more about organizing town halls and involving the media.

Contacting Republicans

The key is forcing them to answer for their support of bills and policies that directly defy their constituents interests or campaign promises. This is a betrayal of their responsibility to the families they represent. They know these policies are deeply unpopular, and they must answer to their constituents. Demand real answers.

• Put them on the spot and force them to explain their decisions fully
• Make their plans public and clear
• List out the harms these will have to everyday people
• Don't let them ignore or hide from their constituents - show up everywhere they are
• When they're away in D.C. keep the pressure on them to let them know it won't be any easier when they come home.

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Contacting Democrats

Compromise only works if both sides are doing it, centrist democrats are almost as harmful as republicans who capitulate to Trump. Though they're both on different sides, their lack of conviction is the same. Urge them to use every ounce of leverage they have to stop the worst of the attacks against everyday Americans. Do not let them use the excuse that they're smaller in numbers or working against a tough opposition. They need to do their job, this is what they signed up for. While you dont expect them to single handedly solve all issues, you do expect them to fight tooth and nail for their people.

Event Strategies

Visual Props

Getting the message to the public can be done easily when using clear visual aids. It is more memorable than just spitting out facts and grabs attention. Some ideas include:

• Create a giant check addressed to Musk, Trump or your congressional rep showing the amount of money they stand to make from unpopular policies like the wealthy tax cuts. Put the underlying issue in the memo section. Deliver the check to the office or to a "stand in" character like the Monopoly Man.
• Tape large eviction notices on the MoC's office to remind them they are in their jobs only because of the votes of the people. Be sure to make sure the notices are satirical and will not be confused for a real forged doccument.
• Host a "die in" where participants lay on the ground for a length of time to symbolize how the impact of policies will lead to literal deaths of Americans (e.g. health care cuts)
• Empty Chair town halls are a good symbolic event to demonstrate how they people will show up and gather to express concerns wether or not the MoC will be brave enough to show their face.

Meeting In Real Life

Sources

• How to Contact Your Representative or Senator: A Beginner’s Guide
• Indivisible's Stop the Cuts Toolkit