Do you contact you government officials?

[busterb]

I sometimes get jacked up and email or call. Have no a clue if it helps.

[glatt]

It depends on who you are calling and why. I routinely call local government officials when I see something that is broken. I've dropped dimes on neighbors who have put large items on the curb to be picked up but haven't made the required phone call to have it actually done. The county sends out a truck in a day or two. I've called the county twice when I've seen water main breaks. Very rapid large scale responses for that. I've called the local police precinct when I've been away travelling for a long time and asked them to do occasional patrols around my house.

They are always very responsive when you call the correct office and give them a problem that they have some control over. Maybe it's just Arlington County that is so awesome. Your mileage may vary.

I've written my senator once. His staff member sent me a return form letter, and the senator voted against my wishes.

In my personal experience, the higher up you go, the less responsive government is.

[BigV]

Yeah, I've called and written. Mostly complaints, some notices. Pretty good responses. I guess the little things have been ignored or fixed, but the bigger things either got fixed or I kept complaining until it got fixed.

[Happy Monkey]

I don't have any who count.

[Undertoad]

I've written letters to congressmen and senators in advance of major votes if I think they are on the line.

[bluecuracao]

I usually phone or email local or federal officials when I come across something disgusting/annoying. I sent snail mail once, but didn't get as good results as when I call, so I thought, why make the extra effort?

[jinx]

I've faxed and/or emailed quite a few times about specific issues. I always receive a nice form letter in response explaining why they're going to do the opposite of whatever I've asked.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I don't have any who count.

No taxation without representation!

[Happy Monkey]

Minus the "No", that's the slogan on our license plates...

[BigV]

Who, then, do you make the check out to?

[Happy Monkey]

Other people's representation.

[BigV]

Walked right into that one, didn't I?

[/condolences]

I've phoned, e-mailed, snail mailed my government reps from city council on up to the Senate in D.C. (can't recall ever having written the president, although I may have at some point in a fit of pique). I've gone down and talked in person with the local mayor and city council. Local government is definately the most responsive. I once e-mailed the entire Colorado State Legislature. Several of them even replied back in a manner showing that they had read my e-mail and considered the issues I raised. I developed a long-running correspondence with one of them - a REPUBLICAN - who would have my vote for governer or Colorado Senator any time he might decide to run. The local city council actually contacted local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials and had them come to a council meeting to be raked over the coals at my behest.

On the national level, all I have ever gotten back is form letters. Wait, I take that back. I did get an actual for reals reply from a Colorado Senator who has since been forced to step down from office due to illness. Figures. The robots in DC probably realized an actual human being had snuck into the Senate and poisoned him.

My advice: Act locally and be stubborn as a mule and you'll be heard.

[Griff]

Buttonholed my township Supervisor in front of the church, played to his ego, and made sure a certain bit of nonsense Harrisburg left optional isn't part of the program in grifftopia. btw tw's was for it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by jinx

I've faxed and/or emailed quite a few times about specific issues. I always receive a nice form letter in response explaining why they're going to do the opposite of whatever I've asked.

Same here plus a few days later a phone call asking me to donate to their war chest.