After the Tea Party – What Can You Do? Dr. Joyce Starr Interviews Don Crist

Dr. Joyce Starr interviews author Don Crist on his new book: What Can I Do After the Tea Party? Crist outlines steps that can harness the passion of Town Hall and TEA Party protests. He explains why it’s critical to communicate with your senator or congressman at the precinct level and how to ensure that your letters are read. Show Date: November 12, 2009.

Don Crist has served as a small business consultant to numerous entities in 52 cities throughout North America. He’s worked for both legislative and judicial branches of local and state government and has participated in nearly every level of campaign management as a volunteer or paid staff member.

Crist explains that while “emails and petitions are not read, they are counted.” Letters, by contrast, are read and can affect an outcome. For example, if an editor receives 15 letters on the same issue, “he will likely dispatch a reporter or might even start a series on the issue.” Senators and congressmen do read a large number of hand-written or personally crafted letters.

Does the media help or hinder the political process? Says Crist, “People use the media for affirmation – not information. Most will purchase or listen to a format which already supports the position they have chosen rather than one that provokes or requires a change in position. Reporters think that ‘the public doesn’t get it.’ But they do!”

Crist argues for old-fashioned door to door canvassing to convince people to take action on a specific issue. In order to inspire neighbors to join your effort – and to attract the attention of your representative – focus on one key item, not a laundry list of items.

Americans don’t want to change that much. In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye decides, finally, “If I bend that much, I will break.” The American people are like Tevye. They won’t bend as much as President Obama’s handlers want to bend them. They fear he will “break us” as a nation and become the “losers” we cannot tolerate. Like Tevye, we value American traditions and patriotism which strengthens us during times of turmoil.

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Townhall Protests + Obama Health Care + Congress = Pandora’s Box: Citizens vs Congress.

Rights Radio w/ Dr. Joyce Starr: Have Townhall Protests Over ObamaCare Opened Pandora’s Box re Citizens vs Congress? Are the toughest questions only an election away? Show Date: August 13, 2009.

Members of Congress, as we pointed out previously, receive their income for life – no matter how many or few years they serve – and the best healthcare your money cannot buy.

Yet, the citizens have no real control over their votes or actions, have little information about campaign contributors (until watchdog groups demand this information) and are left in the dark about the lobbyists who court Members of Congress once they’re elected.

Is this about to change? Is the present prologue? [See our article and listen to our show on Mandated Healthcare. Obamacare: Will Senior Citizens be Safe or Sorry With Government Mandated Healthcare? Valid Solution or www.Healthcare.con?]

Tough Questions for Member of Congress:

• Can you promise I will not lose my private plan or doctor under any healthcare bill
  that you vote for?
• Can you promise that you will enroll in the new healthcare plan if it passes?
• Can you promise that the healthcare plan you vote for will not lead to higher deficits?
• Can you promise that government bureaucrats will not ration health care?
• Can you promise to personally read every bill you vote on?
• Can you promise to disclose all money and gifts you receive from lobbying groups on your website?
• Can you promise that you will vote to reduce retirement benefits to Members of Congress
  and restrict the number of years that such benefits can be received?
• Can you promise to hold regular Town Hall meetings in your state and listen to questions raised?

How to Listen: Bookmark this page. You can listen to the instant replay below. You can also hear the show live on our Self Help Hour page on August 13 at 6:00 pm EST.

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To your empowerment!

Dr. Joyce Starr