viedma | (no subject)

Went to Indianapolis for the 2nd annual Humane Lobby day yesterday, and I have to tell you that it was pretty great.

A couple of things:

Sending in a note to your state rep that reads "Hi, I'm (name) and I would like 5 minutes of your time to discuss H.B. 1468 and H.B. 1683" guarantees you'll wait outside for at least an hour. I watched her look at shoes online, getting more and more pissed (I'M MORE IMPORTANT THAN GODDAMN ZAPPOS GODDAMMIT) until I thought to send in a 2nd note: "Hi, I'm (name) and I would like 5 minutes of your time. Signed me, Town o' residence." She came out a couple of minutes later so I could tell her that puppy mills were bad and stuff and left. I loved her little nose-crinkle when I told her about H.B. 1683 that would make canned hunting legal in Indiana (ick, btw). Thought bubble: Hunting is like, so queer. Meeting with our state senator was a positive experience as well.

The thing I'm really excited about though is the state rep from the next town over. I had the presence of mind to slip her the text of the Delaware legislation that created a spay/neuter voucher program with dog license fees. Here's hoping, yeah?

I'm remembering last summer when I went to D.C. to hang out with

carolcarolcarol and to go to an ACLU rally and to meet with our legislators. I don't know, but I was railing about lobbyist this and that and Caryl-Sue reminded me that lobbyists are not all Jack Abramoff, that ordinary people can be lobbyists, too. It made an impression on my little tiny peanut head. <3

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Go you! Thanks for doing that! :)

It was grand. We held signs that said Honk if you hate puppy mills and there was much honking downtown. And at least three people on the street asked me, "What are puppy mills?" and were suitably horrified when we told them.

Awesome! I would have honked a bunch. :)

"ordinary people can be lobbyists, too."

When I was in high school, I went to Washington to lobby on behalf of Soviet Jewry. It was the most amazing experience, and I came away with the lasting impression that I was actually connected to the government and had some responsibility for what goes on in Washington. Everyone should lobby for a cause they believe in at least once. Good for you!

Everyone should lobby for a cause they believe in at least once.

100% agreed! It's the cure for apathy.

You rock.

Canned Hunting is the thing they do where some rich asshole has a chance to "hunt" an elderly ex-circus animal let loose inside a fence, right?

As opposed to Canned Heat, which is just sort of annoying.

There's a small group of lawmakers here who are freaking obsessed with establishing everyone's God-given right to hunt down an aged ex-circus tiger inside a protected enclosure so all the abused animal brains spattering everywhere can make their dicks hard, or something. Every time I see it I have to reread T.C. Boyle's story "Big Game" so I can imagine them getting theirs.

Best story ever.

In my head the little girl who inherits [SPOILER] after [SPOILER] grows up and turns it all into a giant elephant/other wildlife sanctuary.

As opposed to Canned Heat, which is just sort of annoying.

Or Canned Tuna. Or Greater Tuna.

You're making this a nation of, by and for the people! This country could use public servants like you -- smart and indefatigable and empathetic. But since you'll probably recoil in horror at the thought of running for office, I'm glad you're on our side, fighting the good fight. Against Zappo's.

I had no idea canned hunting was an issue in Indiana. It shouldn't be.

I just gave my exit interview on my LAST DAY OF WORK HERE. Farewell, sweet wire service.

I'm glad you're on our side, fighting the good fight. Against Zappo's.

Zappo's is a devious little bastard, but I like a good challenge. The first time I met my state rep, I thought I could totally do her job. Really, anyone could do this. But the money you'd have to raise, I could blanket the state with spay/neuter clinics.

I had no idea canned hunting was an issue in Indiana. It shouldn't be.

Dude. I found out that Indiana is the only state that's introducing legislation to make shooting tame animals as sport legal, go us. I guess the author of the bill has a brother who works for one of these things.

I just gave my exit interview on my LAST DAY OF WORK HERE. Farewell, sweet wire service.

Woot! Although I will miss staring at Helen Thomas's desk and getting free book swag. Can we break in? ;-)

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Nice timing

Re: Nice timing