One More Question XIV: How It Plays in Peoria
NOTE FROM JARED: I have a quick four-question, anonymous, confidential, mostly multiple-choice survey that will help me with planning future editions of Dirt Nap. Your opinion would be most valued.
So, how’s it going?
You had about 75 days from the election to inauguration to prepare yourself, though I’m not sure many people would have anticipated the flurry of activity over the past three weeks.
We spent much of those 75 days talking about election grief, how to manage emotions around it and what it meant to groups that might find themselves under fire during the Trump administration. And now we’re here.
So, what’s next? That’s up to you.
Maybe you’re looking around and saying to yourself, “This isn’t so bad.” That’s fine. You do you.
Maybe you’ve taken the polar opposite approach, like this Michigan state legislator who was voluntarily sterilized rather than risk becoming pregnant during a Trump presidency. Her body, her choice.
Most likely, you’re in the middle of the curve. Angry at what’s happening1, resigned to it occurring, avoiding the news to keep your mood above the line, and maybe a little scared at the shoe dropping on your life.
So, what do you do if you land in that middle zone? You take action. We’ve talked before about letting your grief fuel your purpose. If you truly felt grief in the days and weeks after the election, now is your time to act.
Protests are churning across the country and they’ll continue. If you’re a joiner and like leaving the house, this might be for you. If you’ve removed yourself from social media, like so many have, check into Indivisible or the 50501 Movement to stay informed.
Showing up doesn’t mean marching down a street with a sign in your hands. Visiting your member of Congress doesn’t get covered by the news but has plenty of impact. Your federal representatives have offices in Washington, D.C. and in their districts (or states, for the senate) for the purposes of communicating with their constituents. You. You’re there constituent. The 24-year-old sitting at the front desk to greet you? Their job is to interact with you, record your concerns, and bring to them attention to their boss.
For instance, you could walk into any of the eight offices of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in New York, and politely express your disappointment in the fact that she has voted for six of RePresident Trump’s 12 cabinet nominations to date.
I stress politely because tensions are high. Ever since the 2011 shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords, congressional offices have implemented enhanced security controls to keep their staff safe. You can’t simply walk into an office; you might have to clear security or ring a bell to be buzzed in. Some offices have closed completely due to increased threats to the representative or their staff. This isn’t new; in fact, it’s getting worse.
But, it’s your right as a constituent to visit the office. Be civil, express your opinion, but don’t berate or do anything to get tossed from the office. Better yet, get a small group of 5-10 together and make an appointment to speak with a constituent services person. Again, you’re entitled. And, it’s effective.
Back in the day when I did advocacy as part of my job, we would get regular briefings from a group called the Congressional Management Foundation, which studies the effectiveness of Congress2 and how it works together and for its constituents. They found that an in-person constituent visit is the most influential tactic a person can employ to have their voice heard.
Individualized written communication is second. Phone calls are third. Again, each communication is logged in a database; your position will be recorded and the member of Congress will be briefed on the topic. You’ll likely get a form letter thanking you as well3.
How do you do that? You could send a letter by mail, but that’s pretty slow as all mail sent to the D.C. offices is screened for toxins. Email might be your best bet. Again, if I wanted to reach out to Sen. Gillibrand about her cabinet votes, I could go to her website, click the Email Kirsten button, and have at it. Each Senator and Congressional representative has this option, though many will restrict contact to their constituents only4.
You could also send a fax. You read that right. My brothers and sisters in Christ, I am here to inform you that on this day, the seventh ninth of February, two thousand twenty-five in the year of our Lord, you can still fax members of Congress. Government, doctor’s offices and nursing homes are keeping this industry afloat and I love them all for it. And, you don’t even need a fax machine, thanks to FaxZero.
FaxZero has a running list of senate and congressional offices that receive faxes5, and an interface to send your message. It’s free. It’s awesome.
Contacting the office by phone might be more frustrating. Both houses are reporting increased incoming call volume since Jan. 20. Imagine that.
How to Write to Your Representative
I feel like I should include something along these lines. Here are some things that I learned over the year:
Limit your letter to one page and one subject.
Don’t swear or make any threats, or say anything that could be construed as a threat.
Do not enter into a quid pro quo. Vote this way or I won’t vote for you will get you nowhere. It is okay to say you’re disappointed.
In the first paragraph, explain why you are writing.
In the second paragraph, describe why the issue is important. Cite relevant facts and avoid opinionating. Use a wide-angle lens and provide personal perspective. If you have evidence of how a topic has impacted you or someone you know, provide it. If there is a specific bill, provide the H- or S- bill number. If it’s a nomination vote, use that person’s name and the office they are being nominated for.
In the third and concluding paragraph, request a specific action. Do not demand it or enter into a negotiation. Thank the Member for his or her consideration of your views. Offer to speak further with the office on the topic, if you’re comfortable.
BE RESPECTFUL. The surest way to get your opinion disregarded or end up on a list is to call people names, use swear words, or make threats.6
Ensure that your communication includes your name, address, and telephone number.
In your inside address7, refer to them as “The Honorable_____.” In the greeting, you can call them “Senator______” or “Congressman/woman ______.”
Things I’ve Consumed Recently…
Book I’m Reading: Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole. It’s suspenseful dreck, but I need mindlessness before venturing into my next nonfiction title. I tried giving A Gentleman in Moscow a go, but it lost me pretty early.
Mostly Non-Political Thing(s) I’ve Read Recently Worth Sharing:
The Day The Music Stopped (S.I. Vault): Though the online archives of Sports Illustrated magazine are touch and go, this 12-year-old piece about the 1961 plane crash that killed many members of the U.S. Figure Skating program is prescient given some of the lives lost last week.
Alarms were raised about ‘congested’ airspace before fatal Washington crash (The Guardian): Admittedly, I’ve always hated flying out of Washington National more than flying in. The crowded skies above the nation’s capital haven’t concerned me as much as, say, flying into New York.
I Hate It Here (Dsyfunctional): Very little has been reported on the crisis of education in America. Amid low wages, an assault on their profession, incompetent leadership, objective-less testing and practices, and metastasizing apathy affecting students, there are teachers. Schools are understaffed because colleges are producing fewer and fewer teachers. “Why?” isn’t the question to ask. “Why would you go into the profession?” is closer.
Immigration crackdown in Upstate NY: A knock at the door and fear. ‘Everything is different’ (Syracuse.com): Lest you think it isn’t happening in your sleepy little neighborhood. Enjoy your $90/lb. tomatoes this summer.
A Shirley Temple Hates to See Him Coming (New York Times): I think this kid is great and I hate him all at the same time.
The spineless cowardice of the NCAA's anti-trans swerve (
): Like Rep. Nancy Mace, it’s apparently cool to be pro-trans and do a heel turn.What executive orders are and aren't (
): with a reminder of the durability and usefulness of the executive order.
NOT Coming this Friday…
We’re going to take one of our self-imposed publishing breaks to reset. We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with new stories and interviews.
Capitalism!
Like any good online content creator, I drop affiliate links from time to time. Amazon links to books or whatnot earn me a few shekels from Emperor Bezos if you spend money when you click.
Sign up for Rakuten or Ibotta using my links and we will both get some free stuff. Plus savings. Think of the savings!
If you bought your child a device this holiday season, I would highly suggest investing in a monitoring service to help you track what they’re watching, saying, seeing and otherwise. Bark is nifty and one that we use with our oldest’s phone. If you use my link, we both get free stuff.
Dirt Nap is the Substack newsletter about death, grief and dying that is written and edited by Jared Paventi. It is free and we simply ask that you subscribe and/or share with others.
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And look, there’s plenty of reasons for conservatives to oppose Trump at this point. Small government types are bristling at the egregious spending coming down the pike. Pro-lifers were offended by RFK Jr.’s nomination; not enough to oppose it, but some spoke up. GOP voters hate Elon Musk. It’s there, though lesser in volume.
Ha!
And how often do you get mail from Congress, right? Shit, how often do you get mail?
That hasn’t stopped me in the past. Sometimes, when I want to make a point to a rep outside of my district, I find the nearby Walmart and use their address and phone number. There’s always a Walmart.
It’s possible that some newly-elected reps haven’t installed their fax machine yet. It’s also possible that some members don’t have one.
I once saw the list on a desk in Sen. Schumer’s office. In 2008, it was at least six pages stapled. I’m sure it’s a bit longer now.
Do not make me teach a webinar on how to properly format a business letter Goddammit.
I spent a decade editing letters to the editor when I was edit-page editor. Most could have used your advice on writing as constituents to their reps. Good advice. Spread it far.