So apparently phone calls are being listened to more than emails/letters. For the most recent bullshit going on, here are the scripts I used to call my senators and Congresspeople. I know for me it feels like I am drowning if I don’t have something to go by, so hope this helps. (For these calls I left vm when possible, some were already full and not receiving. Others that I left vm for were slightly breaking down but I held until the beep and recorded.
Senate:
My name is _____, I am a constituent and my zip code is _____.
I am calling because Elon Musk led unauthorized data and privacy breaches and actions at the Treasury Dept, OPM, GSA, USAID. This is not only dangerous and harmful on multiple levels, IT IS A COUP by the world’s richest man. Our country was not and is not for sale.
I would like to know what Senator [senate person] is doing to get Musk and his Minions out of there, hold them accountable for illegal activity, protect our personal data and US classified data and to get funds approved by Congress flowing again?
We are already seeing consequences and grave harms of unqualified (and disqualified) appointees intentionally wreaking havoc.
I would also like to know what the Senator is doing to stop any more of Trump’s appointees being confirmed, specifically Voeght, Patel, Gabbard, Kennedy
There is no time like the present to defend Congress’s power of the purse and our constitutionally defined government of checks and balances.
Congress:
My name is ____ and I am a constituent at zip code _____. Elon Musk led unauthorized data and privacy breaches and actions at Treasury Dept, OPM, GSA, USAID. Not only is this dangerous and harmful on multiple levels, THIS IS A COUP by the world’s richest man. Our country was not and is not for sale.
I want to know what [congressperson] is doing to get Musk and his Minions out of there, hold them accountable for illegal activity, protect our personal data and US classified data and to get funds approved by Congress flowing again.
There is no time like the present to defend Congress’s power of the purse and our constitutionally defined government of checks and balances.
The thought that he can even attempt to capitalize on RBG’s passing...
The fact of the matter is, if Trump can get a nominee to the Supreme Court to the Senate floor, human garbage pile Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel will do everything he can to push them through.
So.
Call your senators. Call them often. Call both of their offices (home state and DC). Call until they get sick of you, and then keep calling.
I know a lot of us—myself included—hate phone calls and need a little help; here’s an easy breezy script.
Hi there, my name is «NAME» and I live in «CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE». With the sad news about Justice Ginsburg’s passing, I wanted to be sure that you and I were on the same page—just as President Obama was unable to nominate a Supreme Court justice during the election year 2016, so should President Trump be unable to nominate a Supreme Court justice during this election year. Please I hope you stand with me on the right side of history and pledge not to consider a Supreme Court justice until the new year. Thank you.
That’s it. It’s an easy, thirty second message—each of these phone calls (one for each of my senators home and DC office) was less than a minute total.
Call early. Call often. If nothing else, you can do this, once a day, twice a day, ten times a day—call.
Anonymous said to @ask-drferox: hi there! I know you always say to call your vet but I personally struggle a lot with phone calls and I know I'm not the only one - could we possibly get a basic script to follow to make it easier? :)
Sure I can. Keep in mind that the vet clinic staff do want to help your pet, and will ask you the questions they need to know, but if having a basic script helps this one should get the conversation started.
Hello my name is ______
Either “I have *pets name*” if a regular at that clinic, or “I have a *age*, *breed/species* if not a regular at that clinic, or an emergency center.
If you know the reason for the call, “I need to book an appointment/recheck for *problem*
Otherwise describe the problem: My pet has been doing *symptom* for *duration of time* and now *any more recent symptoms*
Either “Can I book an appointment” or “Should I book an appointment” or “Is there something I can try at home” or “When should I be worried?”
For example:
Hello my name is Sam. I have Bella, a two year old cat who has been vomiting since this morning and now has diarrhea. Is there anything I can try at home or should I book an appointment?
Hello my name is Jane and I have a seven year old dog who is coughing for three days but still eats and plays. Should I be worried?
Whoever has answered the phone will then likely ask you more pertinent questions depending on the case. Most of us have training about what to ask, so don’t worry about not giving us the right information.
We’ll usually ask for at least a contact number if you’ve never been to the practice before. Some clinics will get more personal details over the phone, others will collect them at the clinic.
That’s really all you need to get started - who the pet is, what’s wrong, and what you need. We’re there to help, and we’ll figure out what else is important.
Tell Congress: Stop family separation at the border
More than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the border and held in detention centers. (ProPublica got a recording of children recently separated from their parents, if you want your heart shattered.) This is a result of a Trump administration policy referring everyone who crosses the border to criminal prosecution -- and while Trump is blaming Congress, the truth is his administration started this and could change it at any time.
It’s horrifying, but Congress can do something to stop it. Here’s a script to call your Senators and Representatives:
“Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a constituent from [Your Town]. I’m calling because I’m horrified about the Trump administration policy separating families at the border. Is Senator/Representative [So-and-so] co-sponsoring the Keeping Family Together Act?
If Yes: Great! I hope they’ll keep doing everything they can to stop family separations. Thank you!
If No: That’s terrible. Separating families is wrong, and I hope they’ll co-sponsor the Keep Families Together Act.”
If your representative is a House Republican, they might say they’re supporting Paul Ryan’s immigration bill, which they’ll claim protects Dreamers and separated families. This is bullshit. The bill restricts access to asylum and makes it easier to deport parents - even without their children. Don’t fall for it!
Done calling Congress? Great! Here’s a few more ways you can help:
1) Donate: Here’s a page that lets you donate to 8 organizations helping families and kids at the border. Or, Slate has a long list of charities you can support.
2) Protest: You can find protests happening near you through Families Belong Together or Indivisible.
Is there anything we can say or request regarding the White House decision to deport nearly 200,000 people from El Salvador?
Yes! Congress could pass a bill creating a pathway to permanent legal status for TPS recipients. You can learn more about those efforts here: http://www.savetps.com/You can call both your Senators and Representative about this. Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m deeply concerned about President Trump’s decision to end temporary protected status for Salvadorans recipients. It’s wrong to send 200,000 people back to one of the world’s most violent countries, especially when many have US-born children and deep ties to our communities. I want [Senator/Representative So-and-so] to support legislation creating a pathway to permanent legal status for TPS recipients. Thank you.”
Tell your Senators and Representatives: Oppose the tax bill!
Last Friday in the middle of the night, Republicans passed their tax bill, complete with last-second amendments scribbled in the margins. They rewrote the entire American economy with no time for Senators to even read the bill or see expert analysis - and now, many middle class and lower-income families could face tax hikes or lose critical services just to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest few.
But this bill still has a hurdle to clear: The House and Senate versions are very different, and need to be combined before the bill can pass. That means we still have time to call both members of the House and Senate before the final vote.
Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town], and I’m frankly disgusted by the tax bill recently passed by the Senate. Adding last-minute amendments doesn’t fix the fact that this bill blows up the deficit and raises taxes on middle-class families to pay for a big tax cut for the wealthy. I want [Senator/Representative] so-and-so to vote against this bill when it comes to conference. Thank you.”
Tax Week: Tell your Senator to oppose the GOP tax plan!
House Republicans just forced through a major tax bill in two weeks with no hearings. Now, the Senate will consider their version - and unbelievably, it’s even worse. They’re trying to sneak partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act into the tax overhaul - and experts say that as a result, this bill will leave 13 million people uninsured, drastically raise insurance premiums and raise taxes on people making less than $75,000 a year.
Here’s the good news: Republicans can only lose two votes in the Senate, and several moderates have already expressed concerns with the bill. We can stop this the way we stopped repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but we have to act fast. Call your Senator and urge them to oppose this bill!
Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling to ask Senator So-and-so to vote against the Republican tax plan. Bipartisan analysis shows that this plan actually raises taxes on many middle class families, raises insurance premiums, forces millions of people off their insurance and blows up the deficit, just to give the wealthy a tax cut. I hope that Senator So-and-so will do everything they can to stop this bill. Thank you!”