tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270899075443508100.post3224055708771010830..comments2024-01-03T20:28:17.727-08:00Comments on Future Planetary Exploration: Save Planetary Exploration and UpdatesVan Kanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14227978868817989527noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270899075443508100.post-69251873087957232732012-04-04T23:09:16.989-07:002012-04-04T23:09:16.989-07:00Enzo’s right about hard copies, but there’s anothe...Enzo’s right about hard copies, but there’s another way of getting one to your congressperson without delay—fax. I remember reading an article (which I couldn’t dig up again, unfortunately) about different ways to contact one’s congressman, and the staffers interviewed said faxes were best. There are so many phone calls and emails (especially emails) that they’re used more as barometers of public opinion than anything else. A niche issue like planetary exploration would get lost in the shuffle. Fax is considered the best way to contact a congressperson—it has the physical immediacy of a letter and is essentially guaranteed to be read in some detail, rather than simply skimmed like an email would. Furthermore, there are fewer faxes sent than emails or phone calls, so niche issues have more potential to stand out (although it can still be a long shot).Beta Magellannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270899075443508100.post-24322443568702865842012-04-04T21:20:40.716-07:002012-04-04T21:20:40.716-07:00Enzo -
I agree with your reasoning, but history h...Enzo -<br /><br />I agree with your reasoning, but history has caused a change. About a decade ago, someone mailed anthrax-coated letters to key officials. Since then, all mail to Congress is irradiated, causing a six week delay.<br /><br />People who regularly communicate with Congress recommend email, and that is the method promoted on Congressional web pages.Van Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14227978868817989527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270899075443508100.post-43159044577619253562012-04-04T15:00:02.032-07:002012-04-04T15:00:02.032-07:00I'm not an American citizen and I might very w...I'm not an American citizen and I might very well be wrong on this but I still think that a physical letter, when possible, is better.<br />The reason is that congress is full of old people that still appreciate paper more. Also, a physical letter means that you care enough to actually write it, print it, find an envelope, buy stamps, go and post it.<br />A lot more effort than writing it and hit send and that, in turn, means that you actually care and you are not just clicking "like" or "dislike" on a whim.Enzonoreply@blogger.com