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How to tell politicians what you think
Say what?

Every time you read the news, there's another article about some short-sighted decision, some budget mess, some goofy regulation -- or deregulation.What are these people in office thinking? And what can you do about it?

Sure, you vote, but you want to do more.

What's that? You don't have time to sit down and write your elected official a letter? You don't know who to write or how to find the address, and you're not sure it would make a difference anyway? Guess what. No more excuses. If you're online and have e-mail, the time-honored tradition of telling your politician what needs to be done just got a whole lot easier.

If you've got Net access, it's a snap to find your elected representative's e-mail address, and he or she might be among the many who maintain a home page to keep constituents abreast of their accomplishments. Once you've got the address, it's easy to send a message. And with online access to a wide range of government documents and primary-source information, it's easier than ever to find facts to bolster your case.

If you're interested in a particular national issue, many public-advocacy and special-interest groups -- such as the Rainforest Action Network or the Christian Coalition -- often have ready-made forms that require only your name before you press a button to send it to the relevant politician.

So all right, this sounds incredibly easy. So much so, it may seem that e-mail makes less of an impact than does a letter. Not so, say a bunch of congressional aides. (We asked.) Of course, the congressional aides say their offices read every piece of e-mail and that each one makes an impact.

If one whiff of democracy in action gives you a raging fever, go ahead, tell every last politician you can find exactly what you think. But keep in mind that messages from constituents count more than those from others.

Whether or not your voice will make a difference is an eternal question, but if no one ever spoke up, we'd all be in big trouble. Will your message be the one that turns the tide? Maybe so. The Web offers unprecedented ease in registering your opinion and in finding out just what your elected representatives have been up to. So quit complaining, get online, and speak your mind.

-- Ezra Gale

Here's How - Click for more!
Click for more!


Here's How - Click for more!
Ezra Gale, Randy Alfred, and Marieke Boer tell how to get it done on the Net:
How do I contact my elected officials?
Who should I contact?
What should I write?
How should I support my position or request?
What leverage do I have?
Should I expect a reply?

Snappy Picks

State and local government
Piper's State and Local Government on the Net
City.Net
The Electronic Activist
U.S. Government Resources
Find Your Rep
NetGuide Live's U.S. Local Government Listings
NetGuide's U.S. State Government Listings

United Nations resources
United Nations
United Nations System
United Nations and Other International Organizations

Federal politicians' e-mail addresses
The United States Senate
The U.S. House Of Representatives -- Member Directory
The Zipper
Congressional Email Directory (Senate & House)
President, Vice President, and First Lady
Email Addresses of the US Government
Contacting the Congress
Contact Your Representative

Federal agencies and info
NetGuide Live's U.S. Federal Government Listings
Congress.Org
THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet
U.S. Federal Government Agencies Page
FedWorld Information Network
The Federal Web Locator
United States Government Information

International contacts
The Embassy Page
The Electronic Embassy
Political Resources on the Net
Web Sites on National Parliaments
NetGuide Live's International Governments Listings

Activist Links
The Activist's Handbook
NetAction
NetActivitism: How Citizens Use the Internet
WebActive
Electronic Activism
The Electronic Activist
InterActivism


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