Best way to voice your opinion? (Vanity, sorry)

Self

[Mike Darancette]

only the most hard-core, in-the-know types to be online.

Or the institutionalized.

[Jack Black]

email works. I got a response from my congress-critter in about 4 days. Snail mail gets intercepted for anthrax testing for up to a week. I think they like email more.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

1) with a phone call
2) with your checkbook

[The Mayor]

ain't that the truth..

[Burkeman1]

Actually, go hat in hand to them since they are regional Lords for life pratically and ask to have an audience with him as you would a Mafia Godfather. They like to grant favors to the peasants on occassion.

[Phlap]

Go right to Washington testify!

[kevao]

Yeah, right. I live in Alexandria, VA, and work in DC. It ain't that easy.

[perfect stranger]

"What's the most effective way to contact the White House and your senator and congressman? Email, fax, or post?"

What is your definition of "effective"?

[John Beresford Tipton]

"What's the most effective way to contact the White House and your senator and congressman?"


Small bills.

[bboop]

I asked my local State Senator this very question recently, thinking that faxes looked like real letters and emails were simply blown off. He said, 'this is an internet age. Send emails.' "I assume that those are just deleted?" I said. "NO, we read everything that comes into our office,' he assured me. It makes it a whole lot easier, don't you think?

[kevao]

What is your definition of "effective"?

Most likely to be read.

[MainFrame65]

Let's go down the main list:

Phone call - You'll never talk to the office holder, but your call will be answered and your opinion grouped with others of similar views. Nothing to show for your effort, though.

Email - Varies by individual. A few give it a similar level of respect to a letter, but most do not. If you receive only an automatic acknowledgement, consider it ignored. Otherwise, consider the amount of time a more personalized response takes to be an inverse indicator of the amount of attention paid to it. And of course, Form Emails are even more common than form letters.

Fax - I like this best. It really goes straight to the office of the recipient, unlike a letter that has to go through security, and it is immediate. Because it is actually transmitted by exclusive direct connection that takes several seconds per page, you might have some trouble getting connected for transmission. You actually have to spend something to send it, unlike an Email, so I believe that it gets more attention. And it can be as personalized as you choose to make it; handwritten, or even illustrated. They might not print it on paper, but they will be able to see the image as you choose to present it.

Letter - the old, formal, personal communication. But it is slow because of security, and I don't believe that the addressee would ever see the original - only a copy at best, no better than a fax, and far less timely.

Telegram - I doubt the value of this limited and expensive anachronism.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I do all of the above, leaving nothing to chance. :0)

[PAR35]

Trying to "email" the White House is a wasted effort. They don't take real emails. You have to input your message on a web form, using drop down menus for the subject and whether you are agreeing or disagreeing with the president's position. You can then leave a brief, personal comment in the space provided.

If none of the drop downs fit your situation, you are out of luck.

In 6 to 8 weeks, expect a computer generated respose which proves that they did not even read the comment that you wrote. They probably do aggregate tallies by subject and the agree/disagree field.

[kevao]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll go with fax, although it seems that's just the least ineffective way of all ineffective ways to let my reps know what I think.

Depressing.

[Burkeman1]

Fax? If your concern is big enough go to his office and wait days to see him in DC. He might actually grant you an audience! We all know that local politicians control next to nothing anymore.

[kevao]

Living in VA, that is an option for me, which I'll seriously consider. But what I have to say will not be well received.

(I was already dubious about Bush's immigration plan; but, after the "Osama!-Osama!-Osama!" disgrace we suffered in Guadalajara this week, I shall do everything in my power to prevent the "legalization" of Mexican illegals.)

[Burkeman1]

Cool out. No need for that sort of talk.

[kevao]

What do you mean? Do you really think I'm overreacting?