From: Reason (reason@exratio.com)
Date: Sun Dec 22 2002 - 17:14:11 MST
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-extropians@extropy.org
> [mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.org]On Behalf Of Mark Walker
> The letter writing idea has been discussed before but we have not followed
> through on it. As the above exchange makes apparent, there are three sorts
> of groups one could write to: corporations, politicians, and
> journalist-types. Which group to write to? Well some experimentation is
> probably in order, but a little technology might amplify the results. A
> letter to one group should be cc-ed to the other two groups. As Reason
> suggests, a hand-written letter might be the most effective, but
> this could
> be photocopied on the cc versions. With sufficient numbers, there
> is perhaps
> some hope that we might influence politicians and the political landscape.
> Imagine a politician receiving copies of letters sent by activists (us) to
> corporations and idea purveyors (journalists, etc.). Not to be too cynical
> but one can see the politician counting the lost votes in her
> head as multi
> front battle shapes up..... It might help if we had a central repository
> for mailing lists of these three groups and also at least a few
> examples of
> letters. Also, we should keep count of who has been sent something and by
> whom. Reason, what do you think about having a letter writing activism
> section on Transhumanity? Is a goal of 10,000 letters in the next year
> unreasonable? (100 people writing 34 letters sent out to three individuals
> sounds doable).
The reason I'm dubious about sending letters to politicians is that they
do -- so far as I can see -- an excellent job of ignoring large, well-funded
popular movements. 10,000 letters and no cash probably won't even show up on
their radar. Based on my reading, cc'ed letters and e-mail go straight into
the trash.
The people I'd send 10,000 letters to are those who listen to their
customers, have money and have a vested interest in buying politicians --
e.g. drug companies, large medical businesses. You can get a major company
to change direction if you're waving the carrot of happy, paying customers
or the stick of unhappy, non-paying customers.
That and Anders suggestions of the journals -- seems a smart plan for
efficiency per letter.
Reason
http://www.exratio.com/
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