Is There Ever Too Much???

[abluelady]

I find I am writing to my senators and congressman constantly! I sign every petition that comes my way that I feel strongly about! Do senators, congressmen, organization, etc., look at our names and say, "Oh, her again" and toss it, or do they just look at the numbers of phone calls, correspondence, petitions, etc., they receive.

I want my activism to count for something, but am I just dreaming?

[benevolent dictator]

1. If you're sending form letters or emails, they don't count for that much

Especially not emails, since I've heard a lot of office staff get suspicious when they receive a ton of emails that are exactly the same, since they don't know if the email was even sent with your consent or not.

Personalized letters and emails, as well as well thought out calls (not the kind where the organization connects you unsuspectingly to the Senator/Reps office and no one knows what's going on) do make a difference. I think they pretty much just go by the numbers, and I think there's some kind of formula for one letter = this many people who feel the same but didn't write in, but I don't know the numbers.

If you're sending a letter and have time to personalize and hand-write it, I've heard that's really the most effective.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, or fill in the details if you have them.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I e-mail my representatives all the time and almost always get a reply.

And most of what I send are the numerous e-mail "actions" that I get from the countless organizations I subscribe to, though I do make it a point to personalize the letter if I'm conversant enough with the subject, which is increasingly often. I receive both e-mail and snail mail replies from my senators and, especially, from my Freeper congressman. I have a whole pile of envelopes that are from him. He is actually pretty progressive on subjects such as the environment, but I received one from him today, on the possibility of pulling our troops from Iraq (no doubt in response to one of the numerous "actions" I took part in on behalf of Cindy Sheehan) that made my blood run cold. He went on about terrorism and how Iraq violated U.N. sanctions, the whole republican party diatribe. But I already knew that he was on the Homeland Security Committee.:-(

Anyway, my point is that they really do pay attention and I've never had a problem with sending too many, though I do try to space them out. And while I heard that they give less credence to e-mail than they do to faxes, and more to personal written letters and the most to phone calls, I've gotten consistent responses, most of them addressing the specific issue that I e-mailed them about, from all of my representatives. I do believe that they're paying attention. Whether they agree is an entirely different matter.:shrug:

[Dragonfli]

2. It's never enough...

If they are saying, "Oh Her Again", then Goddess bless your sweat heart you are doing what needs to be done!

It does help I think to use the snail mail and fax options if possible.
Also, It is harder to ignore a letter that is unique than one of a million letters with the same text I would imagine.

Still - when I don't have time I will use the mass form option rather than do nothing. because they still can see the numbers. It all adds up, creates awareness and so none of it is wasted.

Without running for office, all we can really do sometimes is make those calls, write those letters, and get our email acquaintances to sign those form letters.

Keep doing all you can do, it will never be too much.. IMHO

They have got to be getting sick of my name by now and I am actually proud of that!

[abluelady]

4. Thanks Everyone

I have started a new campaign on my own. When I receive a "form" response that I don't like I send a letter snail mail with the form letter attached. Maybe some day my reps will acknowledge my correspondence.

Wonder what my FBI file looks like????

[Warren Stupidity]

6. We will all be in the detention camps together.

See you there! :-)

[NMMNG]

3. I just heard on NPR the other day

If an official receives form-letters or e-mails they get tossed into a huge pile designated for either no reply or a generic "form-reply". However if they receive a heart-felt letter or e-mail that has obviously been created from scratch (or mostly so) they consider it more important. They will take the time to read it and put some effort into a reply. It will also stick in their mind more when they are voting on bills.

That's why, from now on, whenever I have the option to alter the text of petitions or e-mails we send I am going to. I want what I send to have a real impact rather than ending up in a heap of "to be ignored" paperwork.

[jarnocan]

5. on care2 and elswhere...

sometimes I feel a bit upset that there are sooooo many petitions- and I do try to prioritize- sometimes an important BIG issue IMHO petition will seem to get lost admist out dated and relativly minor issues- save a dog-punish a juvenile who killed a goose (I genuinely care - but as compared to 100s of thousands dying or potentially dying-in war- or from major environmental concerns, nuclear weapons etc.) so I do try to set priorities. IMHO Impeaching Bush is the most environmentally freindly act I can work on, but I do sign many other environmental and other ones as well.
If you really care sending post cards is a good idea too- direct REAL, sucient- and they aren't tied up in security as long as a regular snail mail letter- I think.

[Independent_Liberal]

8. No, it's never too much...

I write to my Senators and Representative constantly. You have to keep the pressure on. I sign every petition that comes my way. Each time I receive emails about a new letter writing campaign, I take action. You have to give them hell.