The Power of Numbers (Grassroots lobbying methods: part 5)
When it comes to grassroots lobbying, there is power in numbers. And numbers are found in quality grassroots organization.
The thing that makes phone calls and letters so effective is that they are short and quick means of relaying your message. Changing the mind of your officials may not be accomplished with one phone call or one letter. However, a thousand phone calls or letters voicing similar opinions will have a major impact on how most representatives will vote on any given issue.
Once you have taken the time to contact an elected official on an issue, the most important aspect of basic lobbying is multiplication. For instance, finding at least ten others to call or write their elected officials as well.
Even on the most controversial or hottest issues, US rep¬resentatives rarely receive more than several hundred calls, and they represent over half a million constituents. If there are one hundred people in your group and each one identifies at least ten others to contact their elected officials, then through the efforts of one group over one thousand conservative activists will have lobbied their elected officials.
In politics, that’s power!
Remember, no matter how stupid you may think politicians are, they all know how to count. They know that “numbers” on a given issue can possibly mean “numbers” on Election Day. And that gets their attention.
In the end, it's all about the math.
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