Posted by
Christopher Parisho on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:22:01 PM
It's been a while since I posted a blog. I've been busy with life and all the things it brings.
I've been reading and observing the issues though and was wondering how we as voters can make it clear to our elected representatives how we feel about the issues.
Writing letters to our congress men and women, or making phone calls is good. I do it quite often. But I wanted something that will emphasize our opinions and our dedication to holding our elected representatives responsible for their actions.
Joining groups which target specific issues and attending the "town halls" that may occur in your area are also nice, but not quite enough to satisfy my desire to make a significant symbolic gesture that get the attention of the elected representatives.
Then as I was pondering this idea I was hearing the latest unemployment numbers (14.7 million as of June 2009), and I thought "What if all those unemployed could be brought together, along with as many employed but concerned citizens, to speak out against all the reckless actions being taken by our elected representatives in Washington D.C.?"
This led to a moment of considering a "Unemployed multi-million person march on Washington". I say a moment of considering it because these unemployed are having a hard time financially so how realistic is it to ask them to make a trek to Washington D.C.. Then I thought, the elected representatives will be coming home to their districts come August, so why not encourage both unemployed and employed but concerned citizens to take a little time to prepare a short single page list of concerns then hand deliver those to the district offices of the elected representatives.
It would be a huge attention getting moment to have an elected representative come home and go into their office (or have the office call them on the first Monday they are home) and find a line of concerned voters waiting to see their elected representative.
No need to pull a "Henry Louis Gates Jr" and be rude of abusive, simply walk in with out an appointment and ask to see (insert the name of your elected representative). If you are told they are busy simply say, "Fine, I'll wait." and have a seat or step aside so the next person can do the same. The unemployed, and those with free time during the day (2nd and 3rd shifters, self employed, etc), can make this an even bigger attention getting act if they do the same thing day after day, every day.
Don't wait for your elected representative to have some sort of "town hall", bring the "town hall" to them!
If you actually get to meet your elected representative simply state the reasons you paid a visit, give them a signed and dated copy of your list of concerns and let them know that you are paying attention and their actions will determine your vote the next time they are up for election (to any office).
Our elected representatives in Washington D.C., especially the Democrats, are engaged in tactics to drown us in issues and push through legislation that is unread and in some cases incomplete when they call for votes to be had. I say it is time to drown them in voters speaking out against these tactics.