my current strategy for doing what I can to resist/ suggestions for how to start contacting reps

I’ve tried writing this a few times. It feels scary because… well. I’m just sharing what’s helped me; that doesn’t mean it’s “good” or “best” or “enough” or anything.

Things are so bad right now… I don’t even know where to start, even writing about it, is the truth. Attacks on basic human rights everywhere I look. The environment. Aid abroad. Little kids dying because of the actions of Donald Trump and his administration. It’s so bad that it’s disabling in a way, to even attempt to comprehend all of it and do anything other than simultaneously want to hide and scream.

Anyway. I think it’s difficult to do anything other than want to hide and scream, because both of those are completely valid responses.

For me personally, this is what’s helping me do something. There’s so much more that can be done. It helps me to have the organization of a starting place. Like so many things, starting is often the hardest part.

• One thing I learned (I’m no expert, just sharing things I gleaned before from research) during Trump’s last presidency was that calling people puts the most pressure on them; that email is good too, but calling requires work on the staffers to process. But also that email is better than nothing, and will be processed also. “Overwhelming their system” with an inundation of calls make messages cut through clearer, but emails count, too.

• Another thing I learned is that you don’t have to write a sonnet, because all that matters is the topic you’re calling about, because it will be put into a tally that is then given to your congress-person.

So, phrasing and English and grammar and all of that are much less important than simply saying what you’re writing/calling regarding, that you’re upset. What you’d like to see change is optional to include- not bad, but also simply the fact that you’re upset is what is going to be reported- the topic you’re calling about. Nuance will get lost. “Fight to change this” is enough.

• Lastly, focusing on the people who specifically represent you, at your home address is important, because many representatives will only pay attention to data from their constituents.

So if you have one extra spoon for the day and it’s going to be used to contact someone, contacting your specific representative makes the most sense to spend it on.

1. Create a document that’s easy to access. For me, I use a draft in my emails. Others might find the Notes app is a good place.
   
   
2. Find out who your congressional reps are. Here is a website that might help:
   • Congress.gov
     (Go to “Find your member by address,” input your address, and it will show you who your representatives are).
     
     I picked two people to keep it manageable- one senator, one house rep. You can also check to see what committees people are on, to see if one of your people is on a committee for a topic you care about. Even if they aren’t, they’re talking with people who are.
     
     
3. Cut and paste their website links to your document, and write down their contact information.
   
   
4. Start a log in your document- make a note every time you make contact.
   
   When you want to communicate something, go to your document. If you call, write the date and what you called about. If you write an email using a web form, write it, but before pressing “send,” cut and paste it and save it in your document. Then, use the same message for the other representative(s)- just change the name in the address for it. So you contact all your reps with the same message. Write the date that you sent it in your document so you keep track.
   
   
5. The next time you feel upset, repeat. It’s ok to say the same or similar words. Remember, you’re just getting tallied.

“Hello, my name is XX, and I’m located at XX address. I’m calling to communicate my horror about XX. This doesn’t represent the America I believe in (or whatever you’d say). Please fight to change it. Thank you!”

It doesn’t have to be fancy, because the staffer who fields the call/email will just add you to a tally.

Any one call/email probably won’t do much, but collectively they absolutely can.

Also, someone can correct me on this- but I believe you might only be able to add one tally per day per person/topic. So it’s more effective to just do it every time you get mad, rather than doing multiple calls/emails to the same person in a day.

I wish I could march, etc. I was able to do some of that the last time Trump was president; now I can’t. Anyway just remember that just because others may seem to be doing more (and it’s awesome!) doesn’t mean that calling/emailing reps doesn’t count by comparison, because it really does. Especially when we do it collectively.

Since they are the people who are closest to what is actually happening in Washington.

Fighting with people on Facebook, sadly, has a net-neutral effect on anyone in Congress. So it’s helpful to think about the most effective use of our energies. I have to think about it.

Anyway sorry if I screwed something up in this post, it’s scary to write about because of the tension around everything happening. There are many things that can be done- organizations to donate to, etc. Reaching out to our networks and to individuals being targeted is essential, too. This isn’t supposed to be a perfect guide. Just me sharing about the organization method that’s working for me. It’s helping me do something rather than stopping at panic-avoidance mode which, quite honestly, has been my state for too long.

It’s helpful to have the document to go to every time I read the news and am mad, because then the link is right there.

I used to make it a to-do list item (the last time Trump was president) and honestly? That didn’t work as well for me. I got stalled/overwhelmed. Just having the setup ready, for when I get mad, has been working better so far.