Letters: Best way to influence Congress is to tell them what you want

"During the meeting, I thanked him for his past support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and asked whether he would again support full funding for the Global Fund ($4.6 billion over three years) and support language to prevent the administration from rescinding past or future money Congress appropriates for the fund."

"Typically, enthusiasm, hope, denial and amnesia combine with the rationale that building and running something like this terminal will boost employment. The project gets built however the owners want to build it. The best case never or only briefly materializes. Oakland gets what it didn't want. There is an alternative if, as a community, we are united against having this terminal and refuse to build it or to staff it. Don't apply for the contracts to build it. Don't apply to work there."

"There are many ways constituents can influence politicians to better represent them in Congress. Some of the best are meeting with, calling and writing them to clearly express what programs and policies we want them to support. Politicians aren't mind readers. We have to tell them what we want."

Mark DeSaulnier affirmed support for full funding ($4.6 billion over three years) for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and backed language to prevent rescission of appropriated funds. Constituents can influence elected officials by meeting with, calling, and writing to clearly state desired programs and policies because politicians are not mind readers. Local communities can oppose unwanted infrastructure by refusing to take construction contracts or jobs, denying the project necessary labor and services. Collective discipline and coordinated refusal to participate can serve as an alternative remedy when other efforts fail.

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