6 ms·
The most important thing one can do is write, AND call, their legislature. Don't ever shut up about it. Does it stand a chance against corporate lobbyists? Prob
by davisr 7y ago
The most important thing one can do is write, AND call, their legislature. Don't ever shut up about it. Does it stand a chance against corporate lobbyists? Probably not, but it leaves one with a clear conscience.
- netsharc 7y agoSeems weak.. "well, I did all I can.". Look at Hong Kong at the moment; the youth seems to be going all-in with their protests. What is their goal and can they achieve it? Forcing a regime change seems impossible, but who knows. Meanwhile, Mueller is finished, Trump is still president, and Pelosi is the 2019 version of Chamberlain...
- ultrarunner 7y agoI don’t think that sending a sternly written letter should have any bearing on one’s conscious. I upvoted GP, but on the same note I know there is nothing we can do at this point against a powerful bureaucracy with a lot of ideological and financial incentive to proceed. That this has continued and accelerated under multiple administrations with varied talking points should tell you everything you need to know about the power of the modern vote at this level.
- wallace_f 7y agoThat's sad. So why even have kids, or go to work?
- ultrarunner 7y agoBeing sad does not make it untrue. Indeed, many political problems seem to stem from an unwillingness to grapple with truths that make people uncomfortable. I’m not sure why you think an unaccountable political regime relates to children and work— there are plenty of obvious and unrelated answers as to why people do those things.
- aaronbrethorst 7y agoOr your city council. I got a personal reply from one of my council members this morning in response to an email I sent based on this: https://www.seattleindivisible.com/daily-actions/2019/8/1/no-police-partnerships-on-facial-recognition-in-seattle https://www.seattleindivisible.com/daily-actions/2019/8/1/no... She promised to investigate and follow up on a policy front. Good use of two minutes of my time.
- anigbrowl 7y agoThe most important thing you can do is put your body in the way of the machine. Sure, writing persuasive letters is good, but what actually moves the needle is showing up at public meetings, making noise, engaging in civil disobedience, and risking arrest or worse. Reasoned argument is unfortunately not an effective political lever unless you have some sort of power (eg political, financial, military) with which to bear down upon it.