“I have a message for people who say, ‘Oh there’s no point in calling my Republican representative. He doesn’t listen, so it doesn’t matter.’ For the first few years that I was in office, Republicans flooded my phones. Do you think they really thought they were going to change my mind? No. But they constantly and consistently. Republicans flood the phones far more than people who are not Republicans flood the phones. And it does have an effect, because you really start to understand the strength and the scale of what you are up against. Republicans need to get that message too, because it skews our whole environment to the right when the constant pressure come from one place. Like, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but people who watch Fox News all day and right-wing media all day call their members of Congress, and they tend to call members far more, and far more consistently and regularly than everybody else does. And that really matters because phone calls are one of the biggest ways that members measure, not just it’s not just numbers, it’s how they measure enthusiasm, it’s how they measure how people how much they are mobilizing around a certain issue and the more they see them mobilizing the more careful they will be in terms of not making those people more upset. And they will get pressured into acting, or hedging, what have you. So hop on 5 Calls, even the score, because this needs to be regular.”
5 Calls is an app on Android and Apple that allows you to quickly choose a topic and know (based on your zip code) which reps to call. Here’s what the screen looks like:
Given how many people are calling, a lot of voicemail boxes are full. You can Google the rep and find other numbers for them though. My senators have multiple offices and I’ve always been able to find one with space.
Here’s the script I’m adjusting to the topics I am calling about:
I’ve been leaving voicemail after hours rather than calling when they’re open because I get phone anxiety.
In order to not be repetitive and to be more effective I’ve made sure to search news on actions my Democrat reps are taking and thank them specifically for what they’ve done as I encourage them to do more.
It let’s them know I’m paying real attention and provides some moral support against the death threats the fascists are sending them.
amhrancas 