3:28 a.m. - 2003-01-02
Write On
In the early 1990's, the main newspaper in town changed hands. The editorial policies changed radically. A decade later, the paper is little more than press releases from the provincial government tarted up with local colour and paraded around as facts.
When the takeover first occurred a group of journalists, most of whom were working for the paper, decided to try and create a publication - "The New Albertan" - that would allow a greater range of ideas and opinions to be expressed. The main paper squelched it as soon as they could, but it did have a following for a while. During that period I was writing and speaking a lot with respect to social issues of the day. I knew a lot of the writers very well. They asked me for a submission and just told me to write what I knew best. At that time, I spent a lot of time working with different volunteer groups, teaching them how to communicate effectively on their own behalf to legislators and decision makers. I figured that what I had learned - sometimes painfully - by trial and error needed to be passed on, to ensure the full value of the lessons was realized.
I decided I would include it here, because of the belly aching I did yesterday. This was published and copyrighted to me in December 1992. It is still relevant now.
Writing the Politicians Can Change the World.
Much attention has been paid lately to the Canadian public's sense of powerlessness, distrust, and frustration with all things government. The common themes are that no one is listening, and that governments are not representative of the will of Canadians. Paradoxically, there is constant griping about the incredible influence special-interest groups, representing miniscule segments of the population, seem to have over governments.
So what have special-interest groups got that the average Canadian doesn't? Nothing! At least nothing the average Canadian doesn't hand them on a platter. It is Canadians' belief that nothing can be done, and their inaction in the face of this belief, that is the special-interest group's strongest ally.
The secret weapons of special-interest groups are tongues, telephones, pens, knowledge of where and how to aim their efforts effectively, and a bit of time. The first three are common household items, the fourth is easy to acquire, and the fifth is your responsibility - skip one television program if you must, you can catch the rerun later.
The power common to all of these tools is words, or, more specifically, the exchange of them. How much power? Well consider this: one letter to an alderman is assumed to represent the opinion of 100 people on any given issue, one letter to an MLA equals 1,000 voters; one letter to an MP equals 10,000 electors. That in itself should tell you how poorly most Canadians are doing in the communication game. So, members of special-interest groups sending 10 individual letters to each politician may determine government policies that reach directly into your home and your pocket.
Why? Well, first, politicians are not psychic. Like all human beings, they form their perceptions of the world, and make choices, from the information available to them. Second, each representative is one person. When policy is debated around the table, public reaction is a major consideration. The politician with the most letters often wins. As a community advocate, I have had politicians literally beg me for letters from community members.
If you want someone to represent you, find them something tangible to work with. When you and your peers are angrily discussing a specific issue, make that energy and emotion effective by putting it on paper and mailing it. Write to the local newspapers too. The first page most politicians read is Letters to the Editor.
"Fine," responds the average Canadian, "but I can't write a good letter." The assumption seems to be that each missive must be a literary classic crowded with deep philosophy and incisive thought. Wrong! The most effective letters define a problem, state why it is a problem, what action you feel would resolve the problem, and why. It is wise to end the letter by inviting your correspondent to provide solutions, because the action you recommend may elicit a "no", so leave the door open for alternatives. Also, by asking for the politician's opinion, you will get a good sense of where he or she stands on the issue and why, and, more importantly, you will have initiated a civil exchange of words so negotiation can occur. Some further points to remember:
1. Define your terms. Much of the harm done in this world begins with a single word. To prove it ask 10 people to define God or good.
2. Express your feelings. They provide the energy and colour that will make the delivery of your ideas effective. However, make certain your comments are grounded in fact or all the sentiment in the world won't help your cause.
3. Keep a copy of your letter for your own protection.
4. Do not prejudge or second guess your correspondent. Maintain your sense of humour.
5. Do not attack the other person's character, lifestyle, or other choices - they aren't relevant to discussion of issues.
6. Abusive language and behavior just tell the other person how powerless you feel - not a good bargaining strategy except in the jungle.
7. If you are asking for something at the expense of others, perhaps the problem isn't with the system or the politicians. Think again.
8. Don't use a chain saw when a butter knife will do.
Being factual is critical to your success. This is where the telephone and tongue come in. Most of us become aware of issues through the media. Start your fact-finding there. Read the full article and all related materials including the editorial pages. If you can, read from two or three other news sources, plus listen to any spoken reports. Most issues are not simply black and white, so you need a sense of their complexity. Ask yourself what is not being said, and wonder why. This is often as revealing as all the yammering going on around you. If there is a mention of reports or legislation, don't accept it second hand, read those materials. You can call the source cited to track down copies. Remember, if politicians can understand them, so can you.
Call the people cited in the news article, and the reporter. If you respect their time and limitations, are well prepared with questions, and honest about simply being a private citizen trying to understand the issue, most people will help, but don't engage them in a debate. You are, after all, intruding on their time. If you complete this stage well, you will have a fairly clear understanding of the issue. More importantly, you will have laid a foundation of knowledge for yourself so you can feel you are asking intelligent, effective questions, offering rational solutions, and you will be difficult to bamboozle or put off if the people you approach choose that response.
Now, who's in charge? You need to know that legally each level of government has responsibility for specific services or policies. Be sure you approach the correct one. Often a senior level of government will delegate a responsibility to a more "junior" (local) level while retaining control of finances and decision making. Think of it; no matter how competent you are, could you run your home or business if someone else was controlling one or both of those functions inappropriately? Once you have identified who is truly calling the shots, Don't Let Them Off The Hook! If you get caught up in the Blame Game your cause is lost. The other players will just run you around in circles until they wear you out.
You've done your homework, and written your letter(s), but who in that morass of duplicity do you trust? Well, you are the employer/voter/taxpayer aren't you? Start thinking and acting like any responsible employer would. Decide what qualities your employee will need to get the job done. When voting or lobbying this is NOT what to look for:
1. The trappings of a campaign or office. Expensive quarters, lots of pamphlets, signs, and employees are a function of cash not professionalism. Professionalism is HOW people carry out their duties. Good employees conduct themselves equally well out of a tent or a palace. As for cash, you might want to ask yourself where it came from.
2. Appearance or social activities. A piece of cloth does not tell you anything about a person's competencies or leadership skills - just his or her sense of aesthetics. You are not looking for an interior decorator. Neither will you be looking for a companion for a picnic or a dance partner. Be especially wary of the kindly crocodile who reinforces your feelings of powerlessness by agreeing with everything you say, and with a sigh says: "But I'm only one person fighting this corrupt system all by myself."
3. So and so is a Fill in the Blank (Doctor, Lawyer, male, female, etc.). Do you ask your MD to repair your car or your plumber to draw up your mortgage papers?
4. Information about personal lifestyle, religious beliefs, or family dynamics. You have no more right to know a person's personal business than your employer has to know about you. The seamiest side of politics is the mean-spirited, mindless, rumour and innuendo aimed at an individual's character or family. Refuse to wallow in the sewers with the slime merchants. In otherwords, ignore the packaging. Look for substance. There are some truly good people in government. To find them check:
1. Attendance records at meetings (Hansard/minutes), voting records, the committees and organizations they work with. Find out what do they actually Do!
2. Listen to what they say. Then check their references. Do they say one thing, but do another? Do they follow through? Some of these people are only there when the lights and cameras are on, and the battle is already won. Ask the key players involved for an account of your potential employee's ACTIONS. Make sure you are dealing with a leader not a jackal.
3. Ignore party affiliations - there are good people and bad people in all of them. A variation on the Blame Game is Political Football - your issue is too important to be sidelined by the partisanship generated by parties. Insist on a collaborative effort by writing the party bosses and demanding it.
Do you still think writing is a lost cause? Consider this. In the past twenty years, volunteers of Nobel Prize winning Amnesty International have, through letter and fact-based report writing forced the most depraved and corrupt governments in the world to change their abusive behaviour. Tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience have been freed. Amnesty International does not always win, but it succeeds more often than it fails. Its motto is WRITE ON! So, write on my friends.
�
�
