Frequently Asked Questions
Why postcards?
They're more succinct and to the point, easier for Congressional Aides to review and tally for the Senator or Representative. A visual sound byte.
Note: Since the Anthrax scare of 2001, there is at least a 3-week Security delay on all mail into the Capitol Buildings.
That's also why we recommend postcarding to your Reps at their District Offices.
They're more succinct and to the point, easier for Congressional Aides to review and tally for the Senator or Representative. A visual sound byte.
Note: Since the Anthrax scare of 2001, there is at least a 3-week Security delay on all mail into the Capitol Buildings.
That's also why we recommend postcarding to your Reps at their District Offices.
My representative is always (for / against) what I believe. Is it worth writing?
YES! Republican and Democratic Members of Congress all over the country need to hear from us. So do your State Reps and Mayors and Attorneys General. They are all elected!
Thank them when they do something you agree with, and tell them how you feel when they don't. Let's keep reminding them that they are representing us and that their voting constituents are watching. Constituents like you matter to them because YOU are their votes. You are why they do what they do.
Also, don't forget to check the Committee lists under Addresses to see if your Member of Congress is on a key committee for a bill you have concerns about! If you want to write a Committee but your MoC is not on it, use the Committee Address. (All are listed under the Addresses tab.)
YES! Republican and Democratic Members of Congress all over the country need to hear from us. So do your State Reps and Mayors and Attorneys General. They are all elected!
Thank them when they do something you agree with, and tell them how you feel when they don't. Let's keep reminding them that they are representing us and that their voting constituents are watching. Constituents like you matter to them because YOU are their votes. You are why they do what they do.
Also, don't forget to check the Committee lists under Addresses to see if your Member of Congress is on a key committee for a bill you have concerns about! If you want to write a Committee but your MoC is not on it, use the Committee Address. (All are listed under the Addresses tab.)
Doesn't this take a lot of time?
Not at all, postcards are short to write, and we help you save time by putting all the contact information and details on the issues you care about in one spot, for easy reference. You can save even more time by stamping and addressing a batch to your representatives in advance, so they're handy whenever you have a new concern to share.
Not at all, postcards are short to write, and we help you save time by putting all the contact information and details on the issues you care about in one spot, for easy reference. You can save even more time by stamping and addressing a batch to your representatives in advance, so they're handy whenever you have a new concern to share.
Will this make a difference?
Absolutely! In fact, letting YOUR REPS know your views regularly will really have a huge effect.
This description from Indivisible very nicely describes why:
“…Members of Congress are always either running for office or getting ready for their next election — a fact that shapes everything they do… This constant re-election pressure means that they are enormously sensitive to their image in the district or state, and will work very hard to avoid signs of public dissent or disapproval. If your Member of Congress is in a heavily Democratic or Republican district, you may assume there’s nothing you can do to influence them. This is not true! The reality is that no Representative ever considers themselves to be safe from all threats. More broadly, no one stays a Representative without being borderline compulsive about protecting their image.
Even the safest Representative will be deeply alarmed by SIGNS OF ORGANIZED OPPOSITION, because these actions create the impression that they’re not connected to their district and not listening to their constituents. “
(*Which is a reason to add #postcardsforAmerica or #postcards4USA at the end of your Postcard message.)
Absolutely! In fact, letting YOUR REPS know your views regularly will really have a huge effect.
This description from Indivisible very nicely describes why:
“…Members of Congress are always either running for office or getting ready for their next election — a fact that shapes everything they do… This constant re-election pressure means that they are enormously sensitive to their image in the district or state, and will work very hard to avoid signs of public dissent or disapproval. If your Member of Congress is in a heavily Democratic or Republican district, you may assume there’s nothing you can do to influence them. This is not true! The reality is that no Representative ever considers themselves to be safe from all threats. More broadly, no one stays a Representative without being borderline compulsive about protecting their image.
Even the safest Representative will be deeply alarmed by SIGNS OF ORGANIZED OPPOSITION, because these actions create the impression that they’re not connected to their district and not listening to their constituents. “
(*Which is a reason to add #postcardsforAmerica or #postcards4USA at the end of your Postcard message.)