Lend A Hand

I hope this month was as much fun for you as it was for me. I also hope you’ve gotten as many supportive responses as I have from my community leaders. Furthermore I hope we made some kind of difference. That someone somewhere read something and committed to doing something about it. Just one small change, and then another small change, and on.

Next month we’ll be discussing a topic I am rather divided on. War, terrorism and the military. I’ll be talking about some things going on in the war. The reasons behind the most current wars, terrorists and terrorism. And our proud military which never gets enough support and prayers from us at home. Argue the war, Support the soldier.

The first month of regular post features seemed to go well. I enjoyed having something regular to write and I think the features were easy to read. Let me know if you disagree.

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Once the letters are mailed, the phone calls made and the emails sent you may be left feeling like “Now what?”

How can you do more to make the changes you want in the world? After all if we left everything to the powers that be, nothing would ever get done.

I’ve found the Internet to be an ideal way to get the word out about vital issues and facts about the country and the government. It is very easy to set up a webpage on Squidoo, Hubpages, Blogger or Tumblr. It’s also free. Once you’ve set up your page remember to bookmark it on Digg, Del.ici.ous, and Technorati just to name a few. Personally I like Squidoo because you can do just about anything you want with their pages (called lens) and you can set it up so that any money you earn through your lens goes directly to the charity of your choice.

If you prefer more “in the real world” actions, throwing a fundraiser or starting a grassroots movement may be a better fit. A fundraiser doesn’t have to be a major production (unless you want it to be), it can just be a simple yard sale or bake sale. You can offer to rake leaves or do simple landscaping to raise money for your favorite environmental cause. You could offer to walk dogs for your favorite animal cause. The important thing is to get your message out while raising money for your cause.

Meanwhile a grassroots movement involves getting together with more people of like minds who want to help you spread your message, inform others about your cause, raise money, talk to representatives, spread the news across the Internet and so on.

If you have a cause that really hits you in your heart, research starting a grassroots movement. In the future I will have a grassroots toolkit available here on this blog (LAH)

Anyone who has any question or needs advice, email me or find me on facebook and I’ll help you out as much as I can – Note my social networking widget in my sidebar.

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There’s an old saying that you can’t fight city hall. Citizens have time and time again proven that untrue. Our country’s government was originally set up to allow citizens an active part in making laws.

This month we’re trying to “fight” city hall by writing and calling our representatives and community leaders. But are all contacts created equal? Who should you send your letter to for the maximum effect?

If you are trying to enact a change in your city or town, you should be writing to your mayor, your superintendent of schools (if it’s an education issues) or the head of whatever department deals specifically with your issue. It’s probably easier to get through to the head of the department of environmental protection than to get in touch with the mayor.

For a statewide issue, you’re looking at the Governor, Senators and Representatives, and again department heads. If your are ambitious enough to go right to the top – the federal government – you’ll want to concentrate on your state’s representatives in Congress. Writing a letter to the President is an exciting experience but probably won’t do a lot to change policies or legislation.

Finally, should you want to get your point across to a business, company, or group, you’ll need to find out who the leader of that organization is. Write to the CEO or Consumer Relations rep of a business or company to relate your concerns and what you would like to see done.

Groups usually have a leader, founder, president or head of the organization. You should be able to find the name and contact information on the group’s website if they have one or through directory assistance if they don’t.

No matter who you are contacting or why, always be polite, respectful and clear in your point of view.

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As you’ve probably noticed, I have pretty strong opinions. Still I try not to form opinions until I have a decent bank of knowledge about the topic and a firm understanding of both sides of the debate.

Yet there are still people that don’t agree with me on most things and there are people who don’t agree with me on anything.

It’s great that some people don’t see things my way. Maybe they know something that I don’t. Maybe they understand something that I don’t. Maybe, just maybe, I can learn a thing or two from them – and vice versa.

Hopefully I have something to say that can clear the way for someone out there. I hope I can teach a thing or two of interest. I’m just trying to make a difference the best ways I know how.

Remember that change is a two-way street. In order for others to be receptive to your point of view, you need to respect theirs. You don’t have to agree with it but you should acknowledge their right to any opinion whatsoever. Debate with facts and respect, not personal attacks.

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Despite my love for my country and my faith in my fellow citizens, a poor economy brings out the ugly in people.

So here is the debate: Our government is stuffed with employees that are unneeded and just sucking up taxpayer money. We could easily cut thousands of jobs across the nation without the efficiency of our government suffering at all. However with an unemployment rate nearing 9% nationally, do we really want to take jobs away from a few thousand more people?

The thing that confuses me the most is that the lousy economy is costing government jobs but not in the clerk’s office and the many assistants but rather in the police stations and fire stations where we can’t afford to lose people. Who’s brilliant idea was that?

There doesn’t seem to be any easy answer and no one seems ready to comb through the over employment of the government. Consolidation could help our country but until these are jobs to replace the ones lost, we probably shouldn’t mess with government jobs. Otherwise we’re losing tax revenue, spending more on unemployment benefits and opening the door to more foreclosures, homeless families and necessary state aid.

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I’m as religious as just about anyone I know. I believe in God, am personally against abortion for the most part and the death penalty on principal. I don’t see things as black and white and I don’t believe God does either.

So…stem cell research. Recently President Obama lifted the federal lending limits on stem cell research despite the angry cries from its opponents. I really didn’t understand the whole argument at first so I went searching the web to learn more about what stem cell research really entails and why people were so angry about it.

To begin with, scientists believe that stem cell research may lead to the curing of many diseases including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the body which could prove the key to reversing brain damage, regenerating bone, muscle and organs. Sounds like the research could be pretty important, huh?

So where do the scientists get the stem cells from? Here’s the problem. Stem cells are generally obtained from embryos (although research is being done to make this practice unnecessary). Pro-lifers believe that life begins at conception (fertilization) and taking stem cells from an embryo is akin to second degree homicide.

I have to agree with the scientists on this one. These embryos are comprised of only five to seven cells. In nature this embryos would barely be recognized by the body. In fact the human body kills embryos that are not meant to become viable all the time for one reason or another.

Secondly scientists get some of these human embryos from parents who had embryos created and frozen for In Vitro fertilization. At some point, some parents don’t want the remaining embryos so they donate them to research. Would it be better if they just left them there forever? Never to become anything more than a 6-cell organism? How is that honoring life?

Bef0re you form an opinion, find out as much as you can about the process behind cell stem research as well as the applications of the research.

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Writing a letter with a pen and paper, then inserting it into an envelope and addressing that envelope, stamping that envelope and slipping that letter into a mailbox to be picked up and delivered to its destination is quite a bit more complicated and involved than shooting off a short email or, worse, a form email.

Since writing an official letter is a more formal action, our should expect to act more formally as well. Have a clear issue in mind. If you want to write a letter just to introduce yourself as a constituent along with a general idea of the issues that concern you that’s fine bit know that letters are usually sorted according to topic and a letter with no clear message may get overlooked.

If you have a more specific issue to address, you should spend time drafting your letter to include the problem as you see it, why you feel it is an issue that should be addresses and how you would like to see it addressed. Bee clear and concise. Don’t think the official reading will read your mind or automatically know what to do.

Use formal salutations and closings. The opening should contain the full name and title of the person you are writing to and to close use cordially or sincerely and your full name printed and signed. For readability, your letter should be typed out.

On the front of the envelope under the addressee’s name, be sure to put RE: (Your Issue)

Example:

Senator Joe Smith

RE: Public Education Funding

1100 County Court

See-Saw RI 02222 (not a real city in Rhode Island)

Once your letter is in the mail be prepared to wait awhile. You may not get a response but most likely you will.

A few more tips:

• Know your stuff. Have facts to back up your opinion
• Offer a precedent if possible. Did another state decide on a similar solution for this same problem? Is it working out well?
• Avoid making threats, no matter how subtle. Your elected officials know the power you possess and either they will do what you want to keep your vote or they can’t or won’t.

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I don’t often so book reviews but this book taught me so much that I feel it really should be read by every American.

‘What Every American Should Know About Who’s Really Running The World’ was written by Melissa Rossi in 2005 so non of the Obama campaign and election stuff has happened yet.

This book discusses in great detail the people, groups, and companies that control our future. Sorted into eight parts the author covers the “Right”, food and drug, shadowy stuff ( mostly spy and secret military), consumerism, persuaders (influential leaders who try to convince us that their side is right), war machines, precious liquids, and rogues. Each part spotlights some of the worst people, places and companies in the category.

While the book is a bit terrifying in its ability to convince you that practically everyone everywhere is out to get us, I found the book greatly informative. Honestly I learned a lot and it was written in easily understood language. So if you want to know more about the evils of the Bush family, Wal-mart, and OPEC I would highly recommend you read this book. However if you are prone to paranoia, you might want to skip this oneb

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*This is the first of the new features I’m introducing on Lend A Hand this month*

Not even three months in the Oval Office and already President Obama is in a fight with Congress. Well he said he wanted both parties to agree and they do – both sides hate Obama’s proposed budget.

It was to be expected. No one can cut taxes, reduce the deficit and fix the giant mess this country is in at the same time. You need to make something a priority and go from there.

My personal opinion is that Obama is trying to do just that. He’s focusing on pulling America out of the “Great Recession” first and foremost. These are desperate times and sadly call for desperate measures. Keep in mind that not only are we in trouble but that our troubles hurt the Global economy in a big way as well.

Obama’s budget is being criticized for its increased spending for economic growth. It’s criticized for asking for money for the military. It’s criticized for requesting money for even more bailouts. Most of all, his budget is under fire for the way it will increase the deficit instead of reducing it the way Obama promised during his campaign.

While I believe that there must be ways to cut the $3.6 trillion budget plan, I realize that President Obama was elected into a huge mess. And I mean huge. Despite our immediate gratification society it is going to take time to pull ourselves out of this. Change is going to require risks be taken. I know we’re all nervous but maybe we just hear Obama out before we claim that his budget is the road to hell.

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Sending an email is the quickest way to get in touch with officials and authorities. However it is also the quickest and easiest way for other people to get heard too. It’s important to realize that the person or company you’re writing to probably gets hundreds of emails a day, many nothing more than rants and nonsense.

To stand out from the crowd of emails you want to be as clear and brief as possible. If you are required to send a subject for the email, simply state the issue you are addressing in the email. For example: health care or your company’s environmental policies. Don’t worry about grabbing someone’s attention, most likely they get paid to at least open your email not matter what as long as it isn’t offensive.

The heading and closing of your email should be relatively formal. Use the person’s name if you know it, otherwise use the job title of the person you wish to contact. For example: CEO of Keebler or Mr. Scott Smith. The closing should be something like sincerely or cordially and your full name complete with Mr., Mrs., or Ms.

The body of your email should be brief since odds are the person reading it has many more to read and no time for a novel. Two things your have to be sure to include are your opinion of the issue at hand and what you want the recipient of the email to do about it. It is important to be as concise as possible. Rather than saying ‘I don’t like your company’s environmental practices’ say “I’m concerned that your company currently produces 100 tons of non-biodegradable waste every week.”

While it may be appropriate to hint that you may take your business or vote somewhere else, don’t make exaggerated claims or outrageous threats.

By following these simple guidelines you’ll greatly increase the chances that your email will not only be read but also taken seriously

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