Approaching The Winger Terrorism Situation Locally

[MineralMan]

Like almost everyone here, I'm outraged by the actions of the teabaggers and other wingers who are sending death threats and taking terroristic actions against Democratic legislators who voted for the HCR bill. It's good to post our anger here, but if such a thing has happened in your local area, there is much more you can do. Before the police and prosecutors get serious about investigating and prosecuting this terrorism, they may need to be encouraged to do so.

So, if you are in a place where your legislator or legislators has been the target of such threats or actions:

1. Take the time to compose a well-written and grammatical short letter to the editor of the newspapers in your community. Demand that a serious law enforcement effort be made to find and prosecute the perpetrators. Do not rant. Do not express irrational points of view. Be direct, insistent, and calm.

2. Call or otherwise contact your local elected officials in your city council and county board of directors, and make the same demand. Express your outrage, but do it politely and clearly. Calls and Emails work, but letters sent through the USPS are even better. If you own a business, use your business letterhead.

3. Call or otherwise contact the police chief in your city and your county Sheriff and do the same.

4. Do the same to your local prosecuting attorney, both in your city and county.

5. Encourage like-minded friends and associates to do the same.

Here's the thing: None of the supporters of these terroristic morons are going to be contacting these people. They prefer to work in the dark. What that means is that all communications, and the more the better, will be on the side of vigorous investigation and prosecution. Most of these people hold an elected office. Letters are rarely sent to them with a serious request like this.

Act locally!

[daleanime]

1. Excellent advice....

and the way things are going, may want to print a few copies of this and pass them aroundO8)

[MineralMan]

3. Thanks!

[philly_bob]

2. Second-last paragraph is important!

"Here's the thing: None of the supporters of these terroristic morons are going to be contacting these people. They prefer to work in the dark. What that means is that all communications, and the more the better, will be on the side of vigorous investigation and prosecution. "

[MineralMan]

4. It is important. If the only communications these officials receive

encourage them to act, it will be a major influence. Local officials are easier to influence than state or national officials in this way.

[MineralMan]

5. To add something:

Many DUers don't write a lot of USPS letters, so a little primer may be needed. Essentially, the more such a letter looks like a standard business letter, the better. Short paragraphs, an address block, containing the recipient's name, and a formal salutation are important.

Further, a formal signature line is also an important business-like touch. Officials like these are used to seeing letters presented in that form. Sloppy, or poorly-done letters get tossed. Poor spelling and grammar are right out. Use a formal font (Times New Roman is great), rather than your favorite casual font. Avoid overuse of boldfacing and italics and NEVER use all caps in such letters.

Do these letters in your word processor and print them on good paper, not in notepad or some other text editor.


Here's a sample of how the letter might look. Ignore the contents...it is the format and style that is important.

http://www.writinghelp-central.com/business-introduction-letter.html

[riderinthestorm]

6. This is great. Really great. A huge K & R. nt

[MineralMan]

7. Thank you so much.

It's just basic local activism...something that's not practiced enough, but that is very effective.

[MineralMan]

8. Evening bump.

I know, I know. But I tend to write these things in the morning and they drift down. It's shameless, of course, but I'm sorta shameless anyhow.