Hacker News Reader

What if my representative is already a co-sponsor of the USA Freedom Act?

Seems like it would not be very helpful to direct people to call/email her office and demand she support something she already supports.

There's a list here: http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/legislation/usa-freedom-act-c...

View on HN

They should at least promote the good legislators that cosponsored the USA Freedom Act on the banner so the good ones don't get sent massive phone calls and emails and are instead promoted for doing what's right.

Yes, for sure. As someone who works there, there's nothing more annoying for staff assistants sitting through hundreds of irrelevant calls from uninformed people reading a script. It's not a problem to call offices already in support of the legislation, but make sure those calling know that before they dial!

My understanding is that staffers take the calls and basically tally numbers of support (positive or negative). If the numbers agree with your representative, they can use that as ammo in their debate.

OK, fair enough. But you mean like a debate on the floor? I'm not sure how many minds are changed on the floor of the house... especially based on a second-hand tally of constituent calls.

Better to have it recorded instead of nothing. Action seems better than inaction in this case.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com