Why are we, as a country, so bad about regularly calling our representatives and holding them accountable? How do we fix it?

[WarpSpeedMolasses]

I feel like we always have to be told to call our elected officials to air a lot of valid grievances, and it's viewed like some untenable chore. I understand that lack of information and accessibility here is partially an issue. Calling, holding, waiting to get to the right person, etc is not convenient or appealing. But we already do this regularly. As customers, we contact stores and businesses, and navigate mazes of automated messages, endure long wait times on hold, and transfer from person to person when we have a complaint we need addressed regarding a product or a service. How and why is this culture of tenaciously following up on stuff lost from being a consumer to being a citizen? The stakes are much, much higher and way more important when it comes to the latter, and it's not like any of this is any more fun or convenient when we do it to businesses. What gives?

EDIT: Can mods replace "as a country" with "as Americans" instead in the title pls?

 

[nsilvias]

because we have no faith in the system no matter who is in power

 

[Akira86]

we let them buy their way out, or pry their way out with power. Or let the media help them lie their way out with spin.

 

[Darknight]

Three reasons really; money, time and instant gratification. When people call businesses it's usually because there is a direct impact on their money and more often than not, you can get it resolved which is the instant gratification. On top of that, people are already doing that, working, taking care of their family, etc, so they don't have the time since it's not high on their priority list. You're talking about a task that someone has to go out of there way to do over other things that they need to do, and even when they do, there's no way to see the direct impact of their action as many things don't get voted on again, or things won't change until an election.

 

[Knight613]

Because as a single person, you don't actually matter when tons of others blindly follow and vote for someone to put them in that position.

 

[Deleted member 31817]

Even when mass calling situations happen most of the time their mailboxes just get full and they ignore it. I called and emailed my Republican rep multiple times and he never responded. Now he's out of office at least.

 

[Ryuelli]

My senators are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and their answering machines are always full and they couldn't care less about emails (well, my emails anyway).

My congresswoman is Lizzie Fletcher, she's cool.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Calling your representatives only works when you have representatives who care. Republicans don't care.

 

[deimosmasque]

Because it's inconvenient, and most of us working job that doesn't allow for phone calls or days off. So we can't go out and protest.

So we continue living from paycheck-to-paycheck and hope it gets better next election.

 

[Deleted member 3542]

Most don't care. They never get the message or read anything or even hold meetings and town halls. You can only vote and if the keep getting voted into office they'll just keep with that routine. They get paid no matter what.

 

[TissueBox]

Consumers will not give up their hard earned cash for second-rate foreign imported Moroccan rugs, and American citizens, well, the average county-lifer doesn't even know who the representative council members for their respective city and/or city wards and districts are. *shrug* But 'ey, TV marches on!!

Meanwhile...

Ahh, life as a squatter.

 

[Wag]

Calling your representatives only works when you have representatives who care. Republicans don't care.

Click to shrink...

It's nice to live in Ma.

I have some decent government representatives. Joe Kennedy III is pretty good, with the exception of his stance on marajuana which is extreme even compared to most of his constituents.

He held a phone town hall last week and I participated.

 

[Neo C.]

People need to understand that achieving things in a democracy is a life-long marathon. I see too many times how voters dropped the ball after they successfully put the right guys into the office instead of keep fighting for their goals.

This is not exclusive to the US, btw.

 

[AbsoluteZero0K]

Have you tried living in a red state most of your life?

 

[Deleted member 31817]

It's nice to live in Ma.

I have some decent government representatives. Joe Kennedy III is pretty good, with the exception of his stance on marajuana which is extreme even compared to most of his constituents.

He held a phone town hall last week and I participated.

Click to shrink...

Can you please tell him to stop trying to primary one of the most progressive Senators we have for no fucking reason

 

[Wag]

Can you please tell him to stop trying to primary one of the most progressive Senators we have for no fucking reason

Click to shrink...

You realize even if he's not your representative your free to contact him?

 

[Tsuyu]

Because what's unethical isn't illegal.

 

[PirateHearts]

Because I have social anxiety disorder and speaking to anyone over the phone for any reason gives me intense anxiety.

 

[Mesoian]

Because our representatives are the wealthy, and we'll never hold the wealthy accountable because deep down, we all want to be wealthy.

 

[Deleted member 31817]

You realize even if he's not your representative your free to contact him?

Click to shrink...

Of course but he's much more likely to listen to one of his actual constituents at a town hall than a random email or caller from out of state.

That being said my post was more just venting as he's not gonna stop running :(

 

[Grimminski]

When is the last time Pat Toomey's been in Pennsylvania? Fucking bastard is always never where he needs to be.

 

[Deleted member 31817]

Because our representatives are the wealthy, and we'll never hold the wealthy accountable because deep down, we all want to be wealthy.

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There are plenty of people wealthier than a lot of House reps tho

 

[Mesoian]

There are plenty of people wealthier than a lot of House reps tho

Click to shrink...

True.

We don't hold them accountable either though.

 

[Wag]

Of course but he's much more likely to listen to one of his actual constituents at a town hall than a random email or caller from out of state.

That being said my post was more just venting as he's not gonna stop running :(

Click to shrink...

Generally I find him to be ok, I do think my state rep Brian Murray to be much more amenable to suggestion. He has a local office in town while JK III's office is like 20mi away.

 

[fontguy]

Because we typically have no leverage.

If they keep getting re-elected, then they have no reason to stop doing whatever they're doing. If they're in a vulnerable district/state/whatever, then maybe you can convince them to take a certain action out of fear of alienating their supporters, but that's kinda it.

 

[Advance.Wars.Sgt.]

I've long since thought Senators and Representatives should have term limits. By doing that, you could possibly eliminate some aspects of corruption due to a higher rate of turnover, and it will better incentivize these politicians to actually work for their constituents.

As it stands now, none of them feel pressured because as soon as they have a marketable name they can coast on getting reelected.