Comment by flaque | Hacker News Reader

Comment by flaque | Hacker News Reader

First: Call your congress person. Right now. https://callyourrep.co/

----- Some students from Gonzaga Uni are trying to build something to help.

Right now we're trying to build a site that will let folks send a physical letter to your congress person. Letters in bulk may be effective alongside calls.

Demo here: http://savethenet.today/

# We need help!

Github here: https://github.com/gu-app-club/save-the-net

## Programmers

There's a few bugs need to be sorted Built in React/Nextjs

## Designers

We would love a design review <3 Please please please, all criticism and PR's are welcome.

## Non-profits and Biz folks

We're trying to launch this week, (hopefully tomorrow) but in order to take money with Stripe (to pay for postage), we need a EIN. That means we'll either need to register as a non-profit or partner with one. Expediting seems to cost a fair amount of money that we don't have. (We're just uni students) So we're looking to partner. If this is something you could help us with, please please please reach out (@flaqueeau on twitter): https://twitter.com/flaqueeau

(Also, if we're doing the non-profit thing wrong, please let us know)

Honest question: is it worth calling my Congress person if they are already vehemently against repealing the current net neutrality rules? Does it count for anything?

Representative democracy is still a thing -- they still only get their one vote.

PA checking in. Comcast HQ is here. I suspect that vote outweighs mine by about 6 orders of magnitude.

Yes. You don't know what kind of discussions are going on behind the scenes. It could be that they say "I am for this" in public, but in private they are one policy concession away from voting no. Also, it takes like 5 minutes. It is literally no skin off your back, and it is better than nothing, even if the chances of it mattering are remote.

Yes. If nothing else, it removes their political capital. Politicians are weighing which unpopular things they can do while still maintaining their donor base.

Make this cost them. Even if they vote for it. Even if they've supported it all along.

Make this cost them.

And encourage all your family and friends to call, too. The tipping point for getting a representative to change their mind might be smaller than you think, just like how lobbying dollars required to get a vote for a law are smaller than you may think.

I don’t have numbers for how many calls might be needed to flip a vote though. Does anyone have experience with this?

Exactly... most pro-proposal folks are not going to call in asking them to support (since it benefits industry). So as many anti-proposal folks that can call in, the better. Also document their response for the next election cycle - pro Trump, pro cable company, anti internet freedom, etc.

If a scenario is possible under the new proposal, point that out =>

"Soon, your cable company can intentionally make your Youtube/Pinterest/Facebook slow. Ask your congress man/woman why they are willing to support this? <Congress contact info> <Website to protest>"

or

"Are you ready for slower Youtube? You can upgrade for $X to make it normal again. Your friendly ISP/Cable company. Ask your congress man/woman why they are willing to support this? <Congress Contact Info> <Website to protest>"

You have to use simple language in terms people understand, and provide a number to call.

I'd argue this might only be helpful in an area where the margin between the two parties is slim and hotly contested. That's an exception. For the most part you'll get some canned response to make you feel like they heard you, and things will proceed however their big time donors wish.

I love this project! Have some quick feedback:

—I had no idea how much this was going to cost. Consider adding the price near to the CC field.

—I had no idea where this money was going. I assume to send the letter, but what company? How will this appear on my CC bill?

—Non-SSL form for CC info. I know this is still a work in progress, but will be a concern for some.

—Next button was on the left. When going through the process, I would expect the primary action to be on the right.

Best of luck!

https://resistbot.io exists now - how will your creation be different?

Resist bot sends faxes or messages them through the congressional messaging system. We do letters explicitly.

It lets people be more explicit in their communication, that's really it.

Congress staffers also give more weight to written, mailed communication.

I got a "Payment failed" error.

Fixed <3 (at least hopefully)

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