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Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see why it's my job to write to my senator or congressperson merely to tell them to do their job. I believe this is serious. But I'm looking for a more tangible action than writing an empty letter.

What if we made a website where we voted on a "default default", that is - if we collectively voted on a proposal that should go into effect if they haven't arrived at a compromise that they like better?

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It's your job because they represent you. They aren't psychic - if you don't tell them your views, they'll listen to those who do. Ultimately, pretty much every politician wants to stay in power above all else. They fear losing an election more than cozying up to special interests (for the most part).

I appreciate that, but I'm not saying I want to be apathetic. It just seems that we should think of something better than a letter. I wouldn't write a letter to an engineer asking them to "please not make the building collapse." I don't have a strong view about how they do it, I just want them to not screw it up. Maybe that's naive of me, but we all have tough jobs to get done around here in this world, and it's not someone else's job to tell us to take responsibility for our actions or inactions when we screw up something that harms people.

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