Good morning! Does it matter if we call our Congressional Representative or Senators, especially if we live in a blue state? Absolutely. Here is a breakdown of what happens when you call. (Courtesy of several organizations)
If you want to skip this explanation, scroll down to ACTION.
What Actually Happens When You Call Your Rep? (And Why It Matters)
Who Answers the Phone? When you call your legislator’s office, you won’t be speaking directly to them. A staffer or intern answers and takes notes on your message. They’re trained to log every call, and your stance on an issue is recorded. Even if you just leave a voicemail, it still gets counted.
How Are Calls Logged? Most congressional offices track calls in a constituent database. Your stance (for/against an issue) is noted. If enough people call about the same topic, staffers flag it as a high-priority issue for the legislator. The more calls they receive, the harder it is to ignore.
Why Call If Your Rep Already Agrees With You? Calling reinforces that they have strong constituent backing. It helps them justify taking stronger action. It gives them more leverage when negotiating with colleagues. It shows other lawmakers that public opinion is mobilized.
Why Call If Your Rep Disagrees With You? Your Rep’s staff tracks public sentiment. If enough people call, it signals growing opposition—even if they don’t change their vote, they might soften their stance. It builds pressure. Reps are always thinking about reelection. If they see a shift in their district, they’ll take notice.
Does One Call Make a Difference? One call alone won’t change policy—but thousands can. Offices often say: 10-20 calls on an issue = noticed 50+ calls = flagged as a growing concern Hundreds of calls = priority issue
How to Make Your Call More Effective:
- Be clear and direct (“I urge [Senator/Rep Name] to vote NO on [issue]”)
- Keep it short
- Say if you’re a constituent (they prioritize calls from voters in their district/state)Ex: “Hi, my name is [ ], I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].
- Calling Works. Keep the Pressure On. If an issue is urgent, call daily or weekly. Follow up with an email or letter. Your voice counts.
ACTION
Elon Musk has effectively taken over the Presidency. He is an unelected oligarch with no legal authority to access our government’s most sensitive data, payment and communication systems. Who would have thought that we’d be demanding that DT keep his role as the President? (I refuse to use his name; initials are more than enough for me.)
Step 1: Find your Congressional Reps/Senators
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Step 2: Call them. You can use this Script:
Choose one of the following actions to demand.
Hi, my name is [ ] and I’m a constituent from [ City State ]
I’m calling to express my outrage over Elon Musk’s unlawful and undemocratic takeover of the federal government, and I ask that Representative/Senator [Rep/Sen name]
- Forcefully speak out against an unelected billionaire having undue influence on and control over our government’s data, personnel, and payment systems.
- Refuse to cooperate with Musk’s private enterprise masking as a government agency.
- Support any legal challenges or investigations into Musk and his organization’s activity.
- Halt all work in Congress until the unconstitutional power grabs stop.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please state your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.
And now, the music.
Johannes Brahms spent most of his life (but not all as you’ll read) pining for Clara Schumann, wife of Robert. Brahms devised many ways to get closer to Clara, literally in the four-hand music he composed. My sister, my performance partner, had many good laughs trying not to get tangled up while our hands played on top of each other, our arms crossed and we fought for space. When Schumann was committed to an asylum, Clara resumed concertizing to support the family. Recently a researcher came across authenticated letters (the few that Clara didn’t burn) from Johannes to Clara, tucked away under L for Letters in the Austrian National Library . Brahms not only moved in with Clara, he also took care of the (many) Schumann children and wrote progress reports to her in his letters. He composed this piece for Clara.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Betty
Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYy9UeoECEo