samcol

I was wondering, how many people here actually call their senators, congressmen/women, participate in protests or rallys, or even hold a political office? Sometimes in the discussions on this board the comment comes up something like "why don't you do something about it instead of just debate it on a forum?"

The most I've ever done personally is email my reps a few times, which I think was just about worthless. Have any of you done anything that helped bring about change for better or for worse?

j8ear

I VOTE, and I get everyone I know to vote.

I've emailed a time or two too...but suspect all that gets you is an email come reelection time for a little contribution. I so jaded.

-bear

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Hardknock

I vote in every election. I email senators even tough I get responses from their aides signing their names, at least I'm making my voice heard.

Elphaba

Another staunch voter here that badgers others to vote. I've signed email pledges that are in support of issues that matter to me. Rallies and marches are so not me. The most active thing I do is read and read and read....with the hope of obtaining an informed opinion.

roachboy

voting yes.
reading/keeping informed: yes. (well, i think so)
militant action (demos etc.)--sometimes. depends on the issue.
interacting with congresspeople: i have done it in the past. in general, the folk i meet this way are really disappointing as human beings. it does not help my attitude in general to interact with congresspeople/staff unless i absolutely have to.

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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Grasshopper Green

I've voted in every election I've been able to, and always encourage others to vote as well.
I read up on candidates so I can make a more informed decision.
I've participated in several peace marches.
I've never emailed or called a political figure; I did once have a very nice conversation from a local politician who was going door to door, and I voted for her. And I'll vote for her again.
I've never gone to see a speech or anything by a politician because frankly, the people who tend to make speeches here are all Republican and I'm a Democrat and I'd probably just get riled up. Presidential nominees hardly ever make stops here because they already know the outcome, not to mention we only have 3 electoral votes.
I still consider myself politically active though, especially considering that more people don't vote than do.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

irateplatypus

being a military officer, professional (and legal!) expectations prohibit me from being too active. i've even curtailed my participation on TFP to better align with good officership.

i've had some contact with congressmen in the past... my family is acquainted with some key politicians/governors of my home state and my mother is a republican delegate of some sort. like roachboy, my personal encounters with politicians make me less enamoured of their public personas.

so, as my preferences and circumstances dictate, my political activism is limited to 5 hour conversations over a large volume of beer and voting every chance i get.

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If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

~ Winston Churchill

MoonDog

I vote.
I was formerly a member of my city's Republican committee.
I was an officer of said committee for 2 years.
I was formerly a member of my county's Republican committee.
I have volunteered for local, state, and federal election campaigns.
I have solicited petitions to secure a place on the ballot for numerous elections.
I have met a governor, 3 US Senators, 1 Representative, numerous mayors of small - large US cities, and a number of state legislature representatives.
I attended the George W. Bush election campaign rally in Erie, PA, prior to the last election.
I have considered running for two local offices.And, I have written letters and/or placed phone calls to my representatives at all levels to present my opinion on a variety of issues that I was interested in.

I might be slightly active...

host

Welcomed JFK when he made a brief appearance in my town.
Attended an appearance of Nixon during his first term as president.
Resisted the Vietnam War draft and actively protested against the war <br>at local rallies and on my college campus.

Introduced to my state's Secretary of State by a mutual friend and the three
of us shared a joint in official state vehicle.

Met with the first selectman of my town about family business related issues.

Dated chief of staff of a Republican congressman who I became acquainted with on an internet dating site. <br>Our first in-person meeting was at the Marriott WTC hotel in NYC that was later destroyed on 9/11.

Recently, newly elected governor walked by me and surprised me with a spontaneous handshake.

Encountered former Republican congressman Bob Barr during a brief business transaction.

A close friend since childhood is the party leader in my home state legislature

Much more consistant effort voting in presidential elections than mid-term.

dlish

i vote in every election, but then again its compulsory here in australia.

ive attended some political causes when i deem them plausible.

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I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
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snowy

I think it varies from politician to politician--I regularly get letters back from my senators when I email them.

I'm active in various political action groups--most are aimed at reproductive rights (ie NARAL, PPFA, VOX). I'm also an active member of my local Democratic Party and I volunteer with them come election time. In the past I've been involved with groups whose main concern was getting out the vote, and as every election seems to have a new one, I'll continue to volunteer for those organizations.

Yes, I vote, and yes, I promote my causes of choice rather vociferously. I was voted Most Likely To Be A Politician in high school, though it's unlikely I'll ever run for anything higher than school board

Oh, and I've participated in a number of antiwar protests--including one at UBC in Canada (haha). They were awfully surprised when I told them I was an American I also have joined rallies supporting Roe v. Wade.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

loganmule

I vote, and advocate (in time and money) for candidates I support. I try to stay informed. I also write my state and U.S. representatives and senators on issues I feel strongly about. Somehow, I've still become a bit cynical about whether any of this matters. I'll keep at it though.

politicophile

I vote, I've worked for a political think tank, I've worked for a U.S. Senator, and I've volunteered on about a dozen campaigns.

JoseFlanders

Oi politics...

Xazy

I vote(sadly for the lesser of 2 evils) but I always vote.
I have E-mailed a number of different representatives.
Signed petitions.
Gone to a rally or 2.
I even was active a bit in helping to setup a candidate debate for our community board.
And I chit chat weekly with one of the most powerful Democrats in the state. (not that he asks for advice, outside of chatter on the NHL, and other sports).

Ustwo

Meh, I think it depends on age and if your side is 'in power'.

I have a business to run, a family, I work out every other day, and an active social life. That leaves very little time for heckling and rabble rousing. Also both of my senators are of the opposite party of mine, and one of which is a total duchebag (Durbin) so emailing would be beyond pointless. Likewise my house representative is a republican so again, unless I want to say 'good job!' there isn't much point. So I vote, I tease my liberal friends, but unless Hillary gets elected in 2008 or the like, don't expect to see me chanting in the streets.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Zodiak

Yes, I am active and involved.

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They shackle our minds as we're left on the cross. When ignornace reigns, life is lost!

Zach de la Rocha

keyshawn

I am a bit.

- I vote in every election [only been one since i've been legal]
- member of the democrats club in school, although next year i'll probably in a bipartisan voter education org. instead
- occasionally [about 2-3 times a year], I'll email or write a letter to the congressmen/senator/governor about a particular issue that I believe needs their attention, because I'm their constituent
- right now in the process of finding out if I'll volunteer for Voice And Choices - a non-profit/bipartisan econ. development group http://voiceschoices.org

- met the governor a few times; my sister used to work for him; as well as the LT. governor

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