(no subject)
Feb. 11th, 2009 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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
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
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 02:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 02:30 pm (UTC)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!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 04:29 pm (UTC)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.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 06:13 pm (UTC)Nice timing
Date: 2009-02-12 07:48 pm (UTC)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.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 03:57 pm (UTC)100% agreed! It's the cure for apathy.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 04:29 pm (UTC)Or Canned Tuna. Or Greater Tuna.
Re: Nice timing
Date: 2009-02-13 04:46 pm (UTC)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? ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 04:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 04:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 05:20 pm (UTC)