1<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 <\/p>\nThere is only one thing that can get a public servant’s attention, and that is the threat, real or perceived, that you can unelect them, or get them fired, as the case may be.\u00a0 You don’t get that kind of attention unless you earn it.\u00a0 And how does one do that?\u00a0 It’s a simple as fundamental multiplication.<\/p>\n
When you walk into the office of an elected official, by yourself, you are treated as one voter \u2013 something a little less common than carbon dioxide, but not much.\u00a0 When ten people walk into his\/her office, you get attention, and not just because they don’t have enough chairs to accommodate you.\u00a0 (That’s for a reason, by the way.)\u00a0 If 100 of you tried to walk in the door, they just might call security!\u00a0 <\/p>\n
There’s a simple way to get ten friends to join your team \u2013 your Independent Party of Ten.\u00a0 You ask them.\u00a0 Knowing that they are already fundamentally in agreement with your view that the Constitution is, or is supposed to be, the Law of the Land, you ask them to join your “squad” or “platoon” to enforce the Law of the Land.\u00a0 Many people are eager to have someone help them find the best candidates in a given race.<\/p>\n
Not only that, you ask your ten friends to repeat the process \u2013 so that THEY can also vote ten times, legally.\u00a0 It’s not only effective, it’s perfectly legal!\u00a0 Friends helping friends get involved, and in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n
Now, instead of trying to visit your politician’s office with ten or a hundred friends, try this.\u00a0 Call his\/her office, find out when you can invite them to a free meal to visit with some voters who want to meet him\/her.\u00a0 It’s not exactly a hard sell.\u00a0 Free food?\u00a0 Voters?\u00a0 Are you kidding me?\u00a0 We’re talking politicians here.<\/p>\n
Find a restaurant with a meeting room and set it up.\u00a0 Ask your ten friends to come, along with their ten friends, and spouses.\u00a0 (Set up an RSVP system because this really can get out of hand.)\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Hold your meeting.\u00a0 Be prepared to ask some tough questions, and to express some strong views.\u00a0 But, at the same time, give them a chance to tell you about their hopes and views.\u00a0 Keep it amicable.\u00a0 You don’t have to be hostile \u2013 your very existence as an organizer of ten to one hundred voters (or more, if necessary), you do have his\/her attention.<\/p>\n
A monthly dinner meeting, designed to get acquainted with your elected employees will get their attention like nothing else, because they know it will not do to antagonize you and your ten friends.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Now remember this \u2013 it’s November, 2014, as I write this.\u00a0 The campaign for many, many elected offices in 2016 began on November 5, the day after the 2014 election.\u00a0 You may not think so, but every elected official knows that for a fact.<\/p>\n
“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”<\/em><\/p>\n