Influencing Government 101

We'll see, eh? I just sent the following which I'll put as a quote below this paragraph:

I'm aware that fossil fuel companies bear a huge responsibility - almost all of it, actually - for the current parlous state of the planet. Their greed knows no bounds, and the people they exercise that greed upon is us - people like myself, my neighbours (who all also think as I do, btw) and yourself. 20% energy price hikes while the actual cost of generating that energy has fallen by 20% thanks to wind and solar and baseload batteries? WTAH.

I've been a life-long, rusted-on, dyed-in-the-wool Labor voter and supporter, following in the footsteps of my socialist/communist parents, and I'll continue to do so. The Labor party won't lose my vote (considering the alternatives...) so letting the fossil fuel cartel get their way won't affect my vote.

Labor does so much good that it doesn't make sense to me to vote any other way - but it never hurts to do more good, does it? More people will start to see the good being done, equals more supporters. And I'd really love to see Labor mop the floor for the next two elections at least. As a Victorian for the last 12 years, I cheered myself hoarse when Dan The Man retained the premiership. I'd like to see me able to do that for you, and Mr Albanese, and the whole Party.

I got one of those invitations to fill in an online petition - and did it. Cue an Internet cat or something. 

But as I'm always saying - Keep the bastards honest! - and if you get a chance to email / petition (the Minister (& Staff) for Energy as my email was, or any other) DO IT. I happen to actually be a rusted-on Labor supporter because it's the closest thing to my idea of Socialism. And I hope my response gets included in Minister Bowen's decision. It's more likely to achieve that if tens of thousands of people were also emailing with a similar message. 

And that's quite literally what it takes to influence the Government. People protesting on the streets don't directly influence the Government unless they're storming Parliament House or rioting, and even then this isn't usually a positive influence. But public protests should reveal an issue - they usually get a few minutes' airtime on TV and radio after all - and then that's not an end to the matter, it's the beginning. That is where YOU and I and anyone else you can motivate, start sending paper mail, letters to the editor, and emails to Ministers and MPs and Premiers and even the PM if you deem important enough.

As long as you're polite and explain your opinion and intent in a plain and respectful manner, it will usually get glanced at by a staffer, and if there are enough similar sentiments expressed then that message and a count of how many emails will get passed on along the chain. If yours is the email that expresses the concern best, or in a particularly expressive manner, it'll probably be the one that gets passed along.

So write well, and get your opinion across. But do it. I wonder if this message will be taken on board... Give me a buzz on Mastodon.