Hey I just thought of something...

[Pikachu_PM]

Originally posted by Seraph: quote: What if we all picked 2 or 3 senators, and each of us wrote a letter about this issue (whatever the issue is).

Unless they have higher goals (eg they are running for president), if you can't vote for a particular senator then they aren?t going to care about what you have to say. [/QUOTE]A) Then write your own senator and congressman
B) Your wrong...Most Senators and Congressman are actually very decent people--statesmen if you will--and will consider any well written argument that comes before them.

[Stratos]

Nah, I'm not that lazy. I'm still sticking to the point I made about non-Americans as I'm one of them. Is my name on a list gonna count when the issue deals with internal politics in the US? Something I, on top of that, have a limited knowledge of.

I wasn't dissing your idea, Pikachu, even if it looked that way, I was just presenting some questions about it. As I interpreted it, you want to attach the name Ironworksforum with to some specific interrests. If we send a Senator or a Congressman a letter with that name in, there's a risk that they will think that IW is an online 'amateur' lobby group and not what it really is; a politically neutral gaming forum. And there's still the matter of all the other members that never even visit the Current Events forum to read this. You'll have to ask them as well, but do they really have an interrest in this? Maybe they do, but on the other hand, maybe they don't.

I can be completely wrong on this, but I think the members with the interrest in doing this are a small portion of the entire forum. I'm sorry, but I don't think farm subsidies are interresting enough for the average 15-year old gamer to read more about it and sign on to this. And farm subsidies in America is only marginably important to most non-Americans.

Just my [img]graemlins/twocents.gif[/img] , I wont stay in the way if you want to go through with this. Let's just hear what the other memebers has to say about it first, though.

[Seraph]

Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: A) Then write your own senator and congressman B) Your wrong...Most Senators and Congressman are actually very decent people--statesmen if you will--and will consider any well written argument that comes before them.

A) goes against your original idea (which was for all of us to write the same two or three people).
B) The job of a congressman is to represent his constituents. If he is listening to everyone in the peanut gallery then he isn't doing his job. Have you ever written a congressman before? The various times that I have written them, most of those who were outside New York sent me replies that could summed up as "What you say is nice and all, but you can't help me get re-elected, so I don't really care what you have to say". There isn't really anything wrong with this in a lot of cases, the Iowa senator who votes against an ethanol subsidy because a bunch of people from Texas don't like it isn't doing his job. (For those who don't know why I picked this example, Ethanol is made from corn, so it is a boon for farmers who grow corn. However, it tends to lower profits for oil companies, so people with an interest in the oil industry dislike it.)

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: I think you guys are missing the point. We all come here and talk about politics, but what are we actually doing about it?

Some of us are doing something about it Pikachu. [/QUOTE]You'll note I didn't single you or anybody else out...I'm glad to hear you (and I'm sure others) are doing something. Of course, on top of everything else your doing...how long does it take to mail a letter to your Senator or Congressman? [/QUOTE]And who is my congressman? I've never in my life had a congressman Pikachu.

[Pikachu_PM]

Originally posted by Stratos: Nah, I'm not that lazy. I'm still sticking to the point I made about non-Americans as I'm one of them. Is my name on a list gonna count when the issue deals with internal politics in the US? Something I, on top of that, have a limited knowledge of. I wasn't dissing your idea, Pikachu, even if it looked that way, I was just presenting some questions about it. As I interpreted it, you want to attach the name Ironworksforum with to some specific interrests. If we send a Senator or a Congressman a letter with that name in, there's a risk that they will think that IW is an online 'amateur' lobby group and not what it really is; a politically neutral gaming forum. And there's still the matter of all the other members that never even visit the Current Events forum to read this. You'll have to ask them as well, but do they really have an interrest in this? Maybe they do, but on the other hand, maybe they don't. I can be completely wrong on this, but I think the members with the interrest in doing this are a small portion of the entire forum. I'm sorry, but I don't think farm subsidies are interresting enough for the average 15-year old gamer to read more about it and sign on to this. And farm subsidies in America is only marginably important to most non-Americans. Just my [img]graemlins/twocents.gif[/img] , I wont stay in the way if you want to go through with this. Let's just hear what the other memebers has to say about it first, though.

Cool, I understand. Few things to keep in mind though...we don't have to attach the IW label to the petitions...it was just an idea. Those of us in the current events forum could still send letters...even if we don't acknowledge being from the same source. As for you not being American...well, our government/society has taken it upon ourselves to police the planet and imprison non-U.S. citizens without just cause. You may not vote here, but our actions sure do affect you...people may not listen to you...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't speak out. But thats just my 2 cents. Also, read below my post to Yorrick.

[ 12-07-2003, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: Pikachu_PM ]

[Pikachu_PM]

Originally posted by Seraph: quote: Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: A) Then write your own senator and congressman B) Your wrong...Most Senators and Congressman are actually very decent people--statesmen if you will--and will consider any well written argument that comes before them.

A) goes against your original idea (which was for all of us to write the same two or three people).
B) The job of a congressman is to represent his constituents. If he is listening to everyone in the peanut gallery then he isn't doing his job. Have you ever written a congressman before? The various times that I have written them, most of those who were outside New York sent me replies that could summed up as "What you say is nice and all, but you can't help me get re-elected, so I don't really care what you have to say". There isn't really anything wrong with
this in a lot of cases, the Iowa senator who votes against an ethanol subsidy because a bunch of people from Texas don't like it isn't doing his job. (For those who don't know why I picked this example, Ethanol is made from corn, so it is a boon for farmers who grow corn. However, it tends to lower profits for oil companies, so people with an interest in the oil industry dislike it.) [/QUOTE]A) True--I was mearly offering an alternative solution for you..why not do both?

B) I'm sorry to hear you've had such experiences...it is unfortunate. I'm sure if I wrote to a Texan senator about how oil should be banned because I work at an electric car factory in Vermont he'd care less what I have to say....HOWEVER, when dealing with National and International issues, I've found Senators and Congressmen to be very open to ideas presented intelligently and thoughfully--regardless of which state the idea originates. Senators ARE representatives of their states...but they are also statesmen and idealist. My experiences have been quite different from yours.

Most people do become elected in an effort to make the world a better place...an idea that they like--which won't hurt their voting base--is always considered.

[ 12-07-2003, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: Pikachu_PM ]

[Pikachu_PM]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Pikachu_PM: I think you guys are missing the point. We all come here and talk about politics, but what are we actually doing about it?

Some of us are doing something about it Pikachu. [/QUOTE]You'll note I didn't single you or anybody else out...I'm glad to hear you (and I'm sure others) are doing something. Of course, on top of everything else your doing...how long does it take to mail a letter to your Senator or Congressman? [/QUOTE]And who is my congressman? I've never in my life had a congressman Pikachu. [/QUOTE]Yes, yes, because your from another country...yet you always argue against many American issues. Mine was a rhetorical question in regards to *anybody* who voiced your statement...not you in particular. That said, I have heard you voice concerns over American polices in this forum before--and I find absolutley nothing wrong with that--so why not write *a* senator or congressman? Why not several? If you want to form opinions on American politics I more than welcome them...but be willing to help change the policy.

Despite what you may think, foriegners often play a very large role in determining American domestic policy. (admittedly by utilizing American 'counterparts' of their nationality/Religion/interst group). You claim to be an idealist, yet are so cynical as to believe an American Senator or COngressman won't listen to you because you're not going to vote in his district. I have more faith in our (*my*) system than that.

[Yorick]

There's more than one way to skin a cat Pikachu. I don't have a congressman, so it IS pointless lobbying them. However, that's not to say I'm not doing anything. Writing to a Senator or Congressman is not the only way to effect change.

[Yorick]

But I encourage you in your endeavour mate. Don't take my cynical swipes as being a naysayer. I have my own issues with Americentral-gravitational conversation on forii. That's all. Keep it up though.

[ 12-07-2003, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]