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Does it do any good to call my Republican senator about policy issues?

Whenever I call, the aide regurgitates the script of the senator's positions - Republican propaganda. They seem more intent on persuading me than on listening to me.

Do you think they pay attention to calls like mine that ask them to consider another point of view, like repealing DADT? Does my call make a difference?

hey there asked in News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Lookalikes_small
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    Depends on a) the senator, and b) the issue. If your senator is one who is likely vulnerable to losing their seat to a Democrat, they'll be more amenable to at least listening. If the issue is one on which several Republicans are wavering, then you have a chance (every senator has wet dreams about being the swing vote on a crucial issue - they love the attention).

    There are a handful of reasonable Republicans out there, although the Republican party, and most especially the Republican party base (PCOs, ward bosses, etc.) seem to be trying to root them out to replace them with lunatics.

    This state used to have a lot of intelligent, moderate Republicans. They've been eradicated. The state Republican party is run by some extremely strange people who have zero in common with the average voter in Seattle.

    Geni answered in News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Cat-duck-2_small
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    Lee

    Well, they are more intent on persuading you than listening to you, in most cases. As Fnarf pointed out, elected officials are beholden to the party line that got them elected much more than they are to individual dissenters.They're not going to have a real exchange of ideas with you simply their careers are staked on supporting the party platform. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt at all to try to convert you, since you bothered to call. 

    The way you can make a difference is by getting involved and donating time or money to advocacy groups or challengers who are closer to your views. Politics is all about coalition building -- that's why it's so difficult for an individual letter writer/caller to be anything more than a data point. Of course there are people out there that oppose DADT -- but someone who was elected on the grounds that he would support upholding it doesn't have any incentive to take any action beyond respecting your right to express a dissenting view. 

    Lee answered in News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Gold-head_small
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    When you call your senator, you're not engaging in a dialog. You're getting marked down as a data point on the issue, "one for repealing DADT, check".

    Alas, as a Republican, your senator is beholden to the right wing of his own party, and thus has about as much chance of coming out against DADT as he does of showing up for his next campaign appearance in ladies underwear and an Osama bin Laden mask. So it really doesn't matter, unless he starts sensing that his state is 80% in favor of repeal -- in which case he wouldn't be senator.

    Fnarf answered in News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report
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