[klyph]

We've all been told to contact our representatives and ask them pretty please to not infringe our rights. How much weight do these letters, emails, and phone calls that go straight to a machine actually carry? We do ourselves a disservice by pretending that legislators can be swayed by the voice of the individual. The corporate republic under which we are all governed listens to one thing only: money. Lobby groups have nearly total control over the legislative process via campaign contributions. Let's be real, money is political influence. Accepting this fact, there are of course pro gun lobby groups to contribute to, however some would rather not play the lobby group game. Is there a recommended method to contribute individual campaign contributions attached to a request for voting a certain way? How does an individual make his money talk?

[Spats McGee]

I don't think there's any way to accurately measure how much weight one individual letter will carry. Look at it this way: At the "light" end of the spectrum, some intern is probably keeping score somewhere, something like "Senator, you've gotten X letters in support of Proposition 308, and Y number of letters against." At the "heavy" end of the spectrum, a well-crafted letter may actually be put in front of a Representative or Senator, who wil be told, "Boss, this guy makes some sense." We do not know if writing to our congressfolks will make a difference. We do know that not writing to them will, though, and it won't be to our advantage.

In an undoubtedly ironic twist, I'll quote Barrack Obama: "[i]t is not enough for us to say, 'This is too hard so we're not going to try.'"

[bikerdoc]

I have been told one letter/email = 200 votes.
A face to face meeting = 500 votes.

Contributing to an pro gun organization , very good.

Influencing others, and acting like a responsible gun owner, priceless.

[Green Lantern]

^ Doc, where would a phone call fit in on that spectrum? I would imagine a typed or handwritten letter would mean more than an email, and I would think a phone call would too. Just a thought though..

[klyph]

I have been told one letter/email = 200 votes. A face to face meeting = 500 votes.
And how many votes is a $100 campaign contribution worth? We're after the most effective, expedient method to influence our representatives.

[Cesiumsponge]

How does an individual make his money talk?

To be honest, putting it into a lobbying group since it's a force multiplier. A hundred dollar check coming from Frank P. America has no political agenda tied to it. A ten thousand dollar check coming from a pro-2A lobby is pretty self-evident. Letters and emails (and now Facebook and Twitter) pretty much take zero effort, so there isn't much harm in sending them. Putting a good argument on social media also makes it public for others to see. I would assume the more tech-savvy interns are going to be running social media.

If you can get others to join in the effort, that's even better. Only a couple of my coworkers have never bothered writing their legislators. I'm curious if polls exist showing what percentage of the population writes their elected officials. If it's a very small percentage (ie 1%), then that 1% who write in get a disproportionate voice and representation. That's very influential if you can get enough folks to do it.

[bikerdoc]

Doc, where would a phone call fit in on that spectrum?[/QUOTE

Yes it counts, but unless you can get to some one other than an intern or receptionist- like the chief of staff, it is recorded like an email without the documentation.

[QUOTE]And how many votes is a $100 campaign contribution worth?

Coming from an group with a dedicated mission I would say it would equal a good portion of the membership, from an individual it would equal one.

[Frank Ettin]

...We do ourselves a disservice by pretending that legislators can be swayed by the voice of the individual...They aren't swayed by an individual, but they are swayed by a lot of individuals, i. e., volume.

In my days advocating a client's position on a bill with legislators, the legislator would often say something like, "My mail is running 68% in favor of this position." They do pay attention to trends, and they do realize that a significant amount of opinion one way of another is something that will need to be handled.

One of the potential strengths of an effective advocacy group is the ability to generate a large volume of mail on a particular side of an issue.

...Is there a recommended method to contribute individual campaign contributions attached to a request for voting a certain way? How does an individual make his money talk?...We generally considered that money itself can't buy votes. What it does is help assure access -- an opportunity to try to make a point or promote a view on an issue. To get that kind of access as an individual one needs a lot of money and friends with a lot of money as well as being active promoting and hosting fund raising activities.

For the rest of us, our best shot is to give money to advocacy groups. That in effect multiples the power of our money.

[hso]

How much weight do these letters, emails, and phone calls that go straight to a machine actually carry?

It depends upon what you tell them. Remember that the vast majority of people who bother to vote do nothing else and wring their hands and whine to all the wrong people.

A politician pays attention to the people with money first, people who will spend their time working for or against them, people who go to their office and tell them what you want them to do, people who spend the little bit of time to actually write a letter and then those sending an email. They pay nearly no attention to those that don't make their voice heard.

If you write a letter to your elected politicians telling them that you will both spend your money and your time to reelect them or unseat them depending upon whether they oppose an AWB or support one they "hear" the time it took to write the letter, the time you offer them and the money. That time is worth voters either to support or to depose them.

So, yes, it does make a difference to write a letter, but it makes the most difference if you tell them that you pledge your money and time to reelect or defeat them in their bid for office. It makes even more if you schedule an appointment as a constituent and tell them that you'll devote your time and money to support or unseat them based on their opposition to an AWB.

[ErikO]

...It makes even more if you schedule an appointment as a constituent and tell them that you'll devote your time and money to support or unseat them based on their opposition to an AWB.

Especially true when dealing with State or Local folks.

Show up with an appointment, meet with them, speak clearly and honestly with a clear message for why you are there. Their time is precious and they expect yours to be well spent. Come prepared and be courteous.

I got the chance last Fourth of July to speak at length with my local State Senator. She is not a gun owner, but was amongst the folks who were harassed before the Giffords shooting. With luck, our talk will get her to a First Shots event (I've been working with her PA to get this done, she's a very active GA member and her off time is pretty short). I've kept in contact with her since and she has been supportive of my efforts.

Cultivating relationships like this is a great way to get stuff done without being anything more than a constituent.

[krupparms]

Can you please share with us how you get such easy access to your elected representatives? I have been trying to get an appointment with my state Senator or my Congressman for a number of years & am always told they are unavailable. I am not the only one, I have spoken with many others who cannot get an appointments with elected officials.

[klyph]

Tell them you'd like to make a campaign contribution FTF.

[krupparms]

So money is the answer. Isn't that bribery? A criminal act! But not if we do it as a group? I thought we weren't going to discuss anything illegal? Let's try to move this along. Letters , calling, bribery & revolution are off the table! Is their anyone that can come up with a better idea? If not then we are in trouble! They will pass the AWB! So, let's try to come up with something better! Something we can all agree on! And be reasonable &responsible!

[klyph]

From Wikipedia:
Political campaign contributions in the form of cash, for example, are considered criminal acts of bribery in some countries, while in the United States, provided they adhere to election law, are legal.

It's not bribery because it's legal. The system is broken. Vote with your money, I guess.

[krupparms]

I would have to agree! It would seem they don't won't to hear us, unless we're rich!