the unexpected thing about Talking To Your Representatives is that it can actually work, if enough people are similarly mad about the same thing. you won’t get the elected on the phone. but they will hear about it from their annoyed staff, who might not have time to do anything else
Like this is where Karen energy is needed. You need to be on that “can I speak to your manager” shit. Act like you’ve been double charged for your salad and need a refund.
Ignoring the weird temperance arc they’re on now, MADD literally got federal laws AND public perceptions around drunk driving changed in a matter of a few years back in the 80s through persistence and bullying
Facts. When my dog had a UTI, we couldn’t get the vet to write a script over the phone. So I went to the office with full Karen energy asking for 5 minutes to talk to the vet. 20 minutes later I left with the script.
It was being the worst version of myself and I felt bad, but I got what I needed.
Being a total asshole has saved my life and the lives of loved ones on several occasions when officious insurance pricks were all "nothing we can do" OH YEAH MOTHERFUCKER YOU WANT SOME?!
Are we seriously going to let the right beat us on being stridently petty and outraged? That's like Kenya letting the Welsh beat them in the marathon.
(No offense to the Welsh. I just wanted a funny sounding country. And sorry for thinking your country's name sounds funny but...come on.)
I did that to Kathy Hochul when she proposed a mask ban. Knowing (from former students who were interns in congressional offices) that they count pro/con and characterize the emotional tone in reports to the electeds, even if those guys never listen to (or read) their own messages.
Never underestimate the power of weaponized bureaucracy and Big Karen Energy. The far right hasn’t.
I used to do victim’s advocacy in the ER and channeling my mother’s midwestern passive aggression worked wonders with hospital staff, cops, and COs.
Called the State Legislature in NC when the mask ban was under consideration. Told them we were on our was to Asheville/Biltmore and just turned our car right round. (Absolutely true). Asked if we were going to have to leave wheelchairs at the border next. Mama was MAD. 😡
You also have to maintain plausible deniability while being unbearably annoying: be pleasant to the office staff while wearing them down, or they'll label your number, name, and email, and just not interact with you at all.
nora: I remember watching a comedy thing about "white woman emails" and the comedian was just describing how my tenants union operates lol.
one tactic for a small target is to organise a "phone blockade" schedule so someone is calling at all times during opening hours. fucks up a full day's work.
nora: incidentally extremely fun. setup a groupchat to coordinate the thing and have a giggle with your friends.
join a tenants union if there's a local one folks, healthy and productive outlet for your rage.
imogen: does feel a bit like this though:
called Senators office over 400+ times in a row during Amy Coney Shutupand Bearit's nomination and they subsequently changed the phone systems to go to voice mail after 5pm. Effecting change in congress by basically driving his assistants bonkers is real
Also helping people who want to be annoying do so in minimal effort, some of us may not want to write a whole letter but we will def copy/paste some talking points maybe edit and send. Did this successfully for a number of local policy campaigns in my city and it helps turn people out!
My partner is the talking person and I am the writing person for similar but complimentary neurodivergent reasons. And damn if it isn't the highlight of my day to listen to them on the phone being like "yes, it IS me again." The irritation tells you it's working lol
I'll give it another go. Last time I tried talking to my reps, all that happened was they ignored me, aside from putting me on their mailing lists, so now I get all these notices about who they're doing fucked up shit, because KY politics is like 90% republicans.
is @resistbot.bsky.social an option for you? they can fax or email or i think snailmail for you now. i know emailing is free through them tho. i've not ended up on email lists (except theirs) by using their service.
it is so annoying but it does earnestly stand to reason that if you’re annoyed enough to call about an issue (annoying inconvenience waiting on phone to voice an opinion to a stranger) you are a high propensity voter regarding whatever you’re calling about.
I called both my senators today. Bennets staffer said their phones have not stopped ringing since yesterday. Hick’s agreed the senator should support AOC’s articles of impeachment against Thomas and Alito!
Make some noise people. Keep calling.
l man, this is how the Right does it. Cultural conservatism is a minority ideology, but its adherents win because they are willing to be deeply unpleasant and are counting on the rest of us to give them everything they want while muttering "Christ, THIS fucking guy," and so far it's worked for them
