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

Posted on 02/13/2004 7:41:09 PM PST by kevao

What's the most effective way to contact the White House and your senator and congressman? Email, fax, or post? I've heard different opionions.

I post this question on a Friday night before a long weekend expecting only the most hard-core, in-the-know types to be online.

Thanks in advance.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: faq
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1 posted on 02/13/2004 7:41:10 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
only the most hard-core, in-the-know types to be online.

Or the institutionalized.

2 posted on 02/13/2004 7:44:12 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Bush Bot by choice)
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To: kevao
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.
3 posted on 02/13/2004 7:45:38 PM PST by Jack Black
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To: kevao
1) with a phone call
2) with your checkbook
4 posted on 02/13/2004 7:46:23 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
ain't that the truth..
5 posted on 02/13/2004 7:47:46 PM PST by The Mayor ("If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."- Nikka - age 6)
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To: Mike Darancette
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.
6 posted on 02/13/2004 7:49:02 PM PST by Burkeman1 ("If you see ten troubles comin down the road, nine will run into the ditch before they reach you")
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To: kevao
Go right to Washington testify!
7 posted on 02/13/2004 7:53:09 PM PST by Phlap
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To: Phlap
Yeah, right. I live in Alexandria, VA, and work in DC. It ain't that easy.
8 posted on 02/13/2004 7:54:40 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
"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"?

9 posted on 02/13/2004 7:59:16 PM PST by perfect stranger ("Don't shoot – I'm Che! I'm worth more to you alive than dead!" Che Guevara October 1967)
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To: kevao
"What's the most effective way to contact the White House and your senator and congressman?"


Small bills.

10 posted on 02/13/2004 8:09:02 PM PST by John Beresford Tipton
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To: kevao
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?
11 posted on 02/13/2004 8:11:20 PM PST by bboop
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To: perfect stranger
What is your definition of "effective"?

Most likely to be read.

12 posted on 02/13/2004 8:15:23 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
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.

13 posted on 02/13/2004 8:33:38 PM PST by MainFrame65
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To: kevao
I do all of the above, leaving nothing to chance. :0)
14 posted on 02/13/2004 8:50:48 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING (SHUT THE DOOR IN 2004!)
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To: kevao
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.
15 posted on 02/13/2004 8:55:57 PM PST by PAR35
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To: kevao; Mike Darancette; Jack Black; Oldeconomybuyer; The Mayor; Burkeman1; Phlap; ...
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.
16 posted on 02/13/2004 9:11:16 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
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.
17 posted on 02/13/2004 9:14:35 PM PST by Burkeman1 ("If you see ten troubles comin down the road, nine will run into the ditch before they reach you")
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To: Burkeman1
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.)
18 posted on 02/13/2004 9:31:42 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
Cool out. No need for that sort of talk.
19 posted on 02/13/2004 9:34:26 PM PST by Burkeman1 ("If you see ten troubles comin down the road, nine will run into the ditch before they reach you")
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To: Burkeman1
What do you mean? Do you really think I'm overreacting?
20 posted on 02/13/2004 9:37:27 PM PST by kevao
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