If we do not change our politics, if we do not fundamentally change the way Washington works, then the problems we’ve been talking about for the last generation will be the same ones that haunt us for generations to come.
If we're not willing to take up that fight, then real change - change that will make a lasting difference in the lives of ordinary Americans - will keep getting blocked by the defenders of the status quo."
- Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama
(Note: He hasn't said a word about this issue since being elected, hence the candidate reference...)
Imagine a loved one who is sick and dying... You would do anything to save them, wouldn't you?
That's how I feel about my country and it's democracy.
It's sick and dying, and our elected representatives aren't doing what's necessary because they are too blinded by money and special interests. Pay-to-play politics in the United States must be stopped.
Join the fight by contacting your district's representatives today and demanding that they support the Fair Elections Now Act!
First, find out who they are and then contact them using some of the tools available on FixCongressFirst.org. If you can't get them on the phone (which will probably happen, unless your a lobbyist), email them! If they don't offer a direct email address, email their staff!
Here's an example of an email I sent to Senator Nelson's staff:
Sent: Fri 4/9/2010 3:03 PM
To: peter_mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov; brenda_strickland@billnelson.senate.gov; bryan_gulley@billnelson.senate.gov; neal_higgins@billnelson.senate.gov; madeline_otto@billnelson.senate.gov
Cc: TownHall
Subject: Please Support The Fair Elections Now Act
Dear Senator Nelson's Staff,
I'm writing you because I support the Fair Elections Now Act (S.752 in Senate, HR 1826 in House), a bipartisan bill that was just introduced in the Senate by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and in the House by Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.).
I implore you all to pass this message along to Senator Nelson and to urge him to support this piece of legislation because it will result in major campaign finance reform for congressional elections. This would truly help fix the the heart of this country's problems by ultimately replacing a system of special-interest funded elections with a new system of public funding plus small-dollar donations.
I'd like to reiterate just how strongly I support this bill. I have joined forces with Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig, pledging to help organize the Fair Elections Now movement in Florida. We're encouraging everyone across the country to "Change Congress" by pledging not to give a penny more to any member of Congress unless they support this bill. If you'd like to learn more about this rapidly spreading movement please visit http://www.fixcongressfirst.org/.
Please do the right thing for this nation and help end pay-to-play politics in Washington by supporting the Fair Elections Now Act. Feel free to email me back at leol@nsu.law.nova.edu or call on my cell phone ***-***-**** to discuss this matter further.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Louis F. Leo IV
J.D. Candidate 2010
Certified Legal Intern
President, Nova Trial Association
Moot Court Society
Phi Alpha Delta
http://iv-time.blogspot.com/
I also used email forms offered on websites to email Sen. Nelson, Sen. LeMieux, Rep. Debbie Wasserman, and Rep. Ron Klein.
You get the point. I encourage everyone to do the same. It will only take a few minutes, and you'll be supporting change that we can perceive. Instead of complaining about the problems we're facing, help fix the root of all our problems!
Remember, the most important thing you can do to help is spread the word:
- If you're on Facebook, join our group and invite your friends. Use Twitter or blogging to get the message out: Fix Congress First!
- Download the Fair Elections Now Activist Toolkit.
If you'd like to learn more about this imperative citizens movement, watch Lawrence Lessig's new presentation: Ctrl+Alt+Del.
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