A few years ago, I gave up “cynicism,” “inaction,” “powerlessness” and “apathy” for Lent.
I was tired of feeling helpless in the face of what was happening to our country.
I needed to do something more than just complain on social media.
For 40 days I called a legislator’s office every day. I gave my input on a relevant policy issue or bill.
Unfortunately, my perfectionism made it too time-consuming and challenging to continue the 1/day calls indefinitely.
We oftentimes complicate advocacy so much that we don’t do anything.
As Voltaire reportedly said, “perfect is the enemy of good.”
In Case You Missed It
This past weekend, President Trump signed an Executive Order that aims to eliminate:
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services – The nation’s only federal agency that provides funds for America’s libraries.
- The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness – The federal agency responsible setting federal policy and coordinating the efforts of the VA, HUD, FEMA, etc.
If you Disagree
Don’t vent your frustration to the echo chamber that is social media.
Write a legislator.
Here’s a simple guide to how to do it…
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
STEP 1: Find out your congressional representatives by putting your home address into here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
It will give you the names and contact info for your state’s two senators and your area’s House rep.
STEP 2: Send one message to one of them.
Their websites have simple forms to give your opinion.
Don’t make it so complicated or difficult that you never do it.
STEP 3: Next week send another message to one of the other two.
Keep this up for a year and you will have contacted congress 52 times with little effort.
Practical tips:
- Keep your message short. Long messages don’t get read.
- Keep your email to a single issue. State VERY clearly what bill, Executive Order or issue you are writing about.
- Be polite. Rudeness—even if well deserved—gets ignored.
- Add a single sentence as to why the issue is personal to you. Don’t ramble.
IMPORTANT: A part of your mind will be cynical.
It will tell you “they won’t read this” or “one person doesn’t matter.”
Ignore it.
Congressional offices LITERALLY keep a “score” of how their constituents feel so they can decide which issues are worth fighting for (and which are not!). They assume that one person writing to them represents the opinions of multiple people who didn’t take the time to write.
TEMPLATE
Dear [Senator *** or Representative ***],
I am concerned about [insert bill, executive order or issue here].
I am [against/for] it.
This is important to me because [insert single sentence here].
Thank you for your service to our country.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Again, don’t overcomplicate this.
It will take 5 minutes to send a single email.
Do it right now…
Then send me an email if you want…
Peace,
Ryan
