Action: Be Kind to Your Democratic Congresscritters (and Their Staffers!)

[sathari]

This article on HuffPo about the harassment that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar are receiving gave me an action idea, specifically for those who have Democratic or otherwise-friendly Congresscritters--- especially if any of you are represented by AOC or one of the other new, high-profile Democratic Reps and Senators, especially if they're not of the "straight White dude" persuasion.

Namely, that if you're calling your Congresscritter, that's a minute or so of voicemail or conversation that they and their staff are NOT getting harassing messages from non-constituents, even if you don't have anything to say beyond, "Keep up the good work!". Go ahead and fill up their inboxes and ears with messages of support even if they're general. Again, that's like half a minute that they're not hearing verbal abuse from non-constituents. (Something I've heard going around occasionally is that if you have a Congressperson you agree with there's no point in calling them; this article suggests that at least for some of the Congresspeople, just letting them know you support them is not only good information but gives them a break from what sounds like some pretty awful harassment.)

(Seriously, the first thing I thought reading that was, "Wow, given the kind of vitriol we all know that 'anonymous' men are happy to spew at women--- Gamergate, anyone?--- I'll bet some of those staffers are getting burned out or worse, especially with the staffs of new Congresspeople who are also new to politics in general.")

If you need a more precise talking point, H.R. 1, "For the People", which is the campaign-finance and ethics resolution, and H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, are probably two good ones to support at the moment. (Sample script: "Hi, I'm a constituent of [Congressperson]; my name is [your name], and I'm so glad to be represented by [Congressperson]. Please let them know I support [bill of your choice]!")

Comments

[lynnenne]

This is a great idea.

[sathari]

Thanks so much!

[rydra_wong]

I've also seen people point out that positive feedback is usually less time-sensitive (since it's "thank you for doing the right thing" rather than "you urgently need to do the right thing!!!").

So for people who struggle with phoning, sending a nice card or postcard to say thanks can be a do-able thing.

Something I've heard going around occasionally is that if you have a Congressperson you agree with there's no point in calling them

I will always second recessional's point that positive reinforcement is really really important, and disproportionately effective because they generally get very little of it (partly because everyone figures there's no point contacting them if you agree etc. etc.). If you want maximum bang for your buck, let them know when you appreciate what they're doing!

[sathari]

Yes to all of this! I am one of the phone-averse myself and have been grateful for things like Postcards to Voters and similar that have let me do other things.

...and frankly I think in this instance my own loathing of phones is what motivated me; I'm imagining being one of the staffers who has to listen to all that abuse and vitriol on the phone for a living!

[monanotlisa]

I think that's a great idea!

[sathari]

Thanks so much!

[redbird]

Thanks for the idea.

I've been thinking I don't need to call Ayanna Pressley, or either of my senators (my last call to Warren was "thanks for remembering that Puerto Rico matters), but this would be pretty easy for me.

[sathari]

Oh, I'm glad you like the idea--- and I bet Ayanna Pressley is one of the new reps getting the "Gamergate treatment" so her staff would probably love hearing from you! (Elizabeth WArren's voicemail is probably a house of horrors too but at least she's an old hand.)