Go to your GOP Rep's Constituent Office Right Now

If you want to support democracy in the US, here is something you can do right now that will be extremely effective. If you are in a US House district represented by a Republican, go to their office. Before you go, visit this website. https://democrats-budget.house.gov/legislation/republican-rip-off

Here's why to visit their office, why now is a perfect time, a great opportunity to support democracy, what to do while you are there, and if you are not a US voter in a Republican US House district, how you can help.

By Friday 14 March, the US House has to pass a Continuing Resolution or a new 2025 budget. Because the current administration's number one priority is to prolong the tax cuts to their billionaire donors, they need to balance this with spending cuts caused by the trillions in lost revenue. There are very few things they can cut that can balance the trillions they want to give to their oligarchs. Really the only things they can cut are Medicaid and SNAP benefits (Food Stamps). The numbers are very clear; the brilliantly helpful website above has it all.

The most important goal for Democrats right now is to clarify to elected Republicans the choice they are each making between obedience to the oligarchs that control the White House or serving their constituents. It's really very simple. Keep in mind that the Republicans have been very effective at splitting Democrats. It is the focus of all their campaigns and their key skill. Democratic campaigns largely ignore Republicans; its one of the main reasons we keep losing. Now is a great chance to correct that. Republican representatives rely on being able to hide their actions from their constituents; it is up to us to let them know that they will not be able to do this. And the best way to do this is physically in their space, in their district.

Here's how.

Check the website above with your address and see if you are represented in the US House by a Republican. If so, then look up their official page and find the address of the nearest constituent office. Before you go, at the Republican Rip Off page above, below where they list what this giveaway to the oligarchs will do, at the bottom click "Download Fact Sheet" and print as many of those as you can, at least ten. Bring the printouts, tape, a phone charger, and anything else you will need to stay for a long time. People who are not working or whose work allows them to spend a long time there, particularly younger or older people, have a particular opportunity to be effective here.

When you go there video yourself and going and arriving there and post that to let your contacts know what you are doing and to encourage them to come. Go even if it isn't normal working hours just to get an idea of the layout. Tape some of the fact sheets around. Good to find the nearest most convenient diner, cafe, or convenient meeting place and remember it, ideally one from which you can see the entrance to the constituent office. Get a coffee, make a plan, and start messaging friends. Some constituent offices will open on the street which makes things much easier.

Other's will be in an office park or building with security or a lobby attendant. If it is open and during working hours, go up, enter the office, and say that you would like to talk to the Representative personally to hear how they will vote and why. At some offices they will require that you have an appointment to get in. Most people have some kind of consular migration related question, or other constituent services question, they may want to ask face-to-face.

Once you are in, don't leave until you can speak to your Rep personally in the office or via video call. Get comfortable, be polite, listen to the people who work there, gather information, find things you have in common, anything at all, favorite local restaurants for example. Settle in, and write as many people as you can to get them there to the office. Write local journalists, including high school newspapers, faith based groups, community organizations, near by college journalism departments, send endless cold emails letting people in the district know what is happening, search for relevant local hashtags, and anybody else you can encourage to stop by and stay as long as they are able.

If you are prevented from entering or staying, video it, post, and get and stay as close as you can.

While there, focus on getting people to actually come to the office and join you. The goal is to have at least ten people inside the office, or as many as are needed so that some people are standing and some sitting on the floor (be sure to trade off getting seats, with deference to those of a certain age), and at least thirty in front of the building. This is the threshold for photos to express urgency and importance. Post these photos with relevant hashtags for example the reps name then "ripoff". For example, my Rep in Dallas is Republican Beth Van Duyne so I'd use #VanDuyneRipoff among others. And #GOPripoff to see other efforts around the country. Be sure to post the Fact Sheet and the information on it, as well as the Republican Ripoff website, as frequently as possible.

By the way, if you are in Dallas, Van Duyne's office is on the eighth floor (830) 14951 Dallas Parkway, so the SW corner of the Toll Road and Belt Line. The Dallas/Addison Marriott is just on the other side of the parking lot and is a good warm place to meet to plan and chat when her office is closed.

If it is opening hours but for whatever reason you are not admitted to the constituent office, then call another office in the building, ideally on the same floor, and set up an appointment and go to that office, enjoy connecting with a local business, support them in any way you can, and stop by at the constituent office as you leave that appointment.

The goal is to have constituents at their Reps offices in shifts, so that once they show up they stay until they can find somebody they know to replace them and ideally one or two more people. Then once a person is there, encourage them to stay until they can get at least one person there to replace them or until the office closes. Extremely important for those who close the office one evening to put together a list of those who commit to be there thirty minutes before the office opens in the morning to cover the morning shift. That way the numbers will grow until the vote on Friday 14 March. People should be inside and outside from half an hour before opening until at least thirty minutes after the official closing time, whether or not the group is admitted to the office, out front is fine.

If you can't stay there for a long time, then let people know via social media that you are happy to provide rides there and back for any volunteers, can bring food, blankets, umbrellas, or any other way you can support those actually in or at the office.

This should happen in all 218 Republican House members offices, and keep in mind that some of them have more than one constituent office within the district. If you are from another district but live in or near Washington DC, then go to their office on the Hill. It doesn't matter how safe their seat is, none of them are safe from primary opponents, particularly those who grovel and boot-lick the administration over the interest of their constituents. Many many people are being illegally and unethically fired right now, be sure to encourage friends with USAID, and the many many other federal employees who may have the time and inclination to support this effort.

If you are not a US voter or do not have a Republican Rep, where is the nearest one? Can you get to that office and help? Do you know people in Republican districts in the US, particularly people young or old enough that they may have time to stay in the offices for a long time? If you are in a Democratic district, don't waste your time bothering your rep about this, they are doing all they can, focus on the Republican Reps. Amplify via social media the communication of whoever is helping at a Republican constituent office and always put an encouraging comment no matter how small, this will boost within the algorithms.

But remember that direct person-to-person communication is always more effective to get people to actually do things and go places than any social media liking, boosting, or reposting.

About 20% or 80 million Americans are on Medicaid, many of whom don't even know it. About 40% of all US children are on Medicaid, which is often used for crucial preventative check ups and vaccines, among many other things. The way it is set up via private health insurers, many people don't even realize they are on it. If it ends, they will just see a massive increase in their out-of-pocket medical costs, premiums, and simply the cost of insurance.

In the US, often when people get old and can no longer stay at home on their own, they end up in a hospital. If there is nowhere else for them to go, the hospital tries to get them to an elder care home but these are expensive and most in that situation can't afford them. So the elder's house and all their assets are sold if they have any. Then they are enrolled in Medicaid. If they lose Medicaid, they are evicted, and end up homeless.

SNAP is food support for people with low income, 80% go to households with kids under 18, an adult over 60, or somebody who is disabled. About 40 million people each month rely on SNAP for food.

While in the constituent office of Republican representatives, and while you are not encouraging other to join, informing relevant journalists and others, posting to social media, this is a great time to learn about the US budget, and to discuss our priorities as a society.

Good luck, stay relentless, have fun, and remember, we're all in this together!

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