Six reasons my friends aren’t calling Congress, DEBUNKED

“The replacement of our constitutional system of government with the whims of an unelected private citizen is a coup. The U.S. president has no authority to cut programs created and funded by Congress, and a private citizen tapped by a president has even less standing to try anything so radical,” political historian Heather Cox Richardson wrote on February 3, 2025 about Elon Musk’s illegal seizure of federal government agencies.

The Guardian likewise warns that a “coup” is underway in its recent editorial.

Also of note in the Guardian piece is the assessment that President Trump’s chaotic, illegal actions reveal incompetence and desperation, not strength. In his 15-minute audio essay Don’t Believe Him, Ezra Klein likewise argues that the president’s obsession with executive orders, instead of working with Congress, where his own party holds the majority in both chambers, shows his weakness.

Now is the time for us to speak up. Together.

Unfortunately, many of my otherwise furious friends won’t take the step of calling their reps on the phone, which is the most effective way to get through to Congress without leaving your house. Are you making any of these excuses?

“Congress is hopelessly corrupt and incompetent, regardless of party. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

It’s so edgy to be fatalistic, isn’t it? So satisfyingly subversive to declare that it’s all broken anyway. It’s so totally chill to say you’re justified in doing absolutely nothing and then spread that attitude to others.

Personally, I admire the people who are brave enough to admit that they care and they’re going to try, even in a bad system, even if they’ll probably fail. Because there is something worse than trying and failing. It’s not trying at all because of your own cynical excuses.

“I have phone anxiety. I can’t make calls.”

Just like any other problem, you can face your anxieties and work on them, or not.

How do you handle other things you’re anxious about? Do you prepare and practice? Get advice from someone who’s done it? Do it with a friend or accountability partner? Promise yourself a little treat afterwards?

These all work for calling Congress. Phone anxiety is no reason to let your reps off the hook when democracy is on the line.

Maybe you can practice your phone skills by finding something GOOD that your rep did, and simply calling to say thank you, so you don't feel so nervous about delivering the message. They need to hear from us when they do the right thing, too.

“I’m mad but I don’t feel well-informed enough, so I don’t know what to say.”

What century is it? Oh, right. The movable-type printing press was invented almost 600 years ago, and if you like books, you should try the Internet.

Getting informed is like pumping iron or learning to knit: you commit to practicing. You can quickly build your political know-how by reading newsletters like Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American or Jessica Yellin’s News Not Noise, or your vetted outlet of choice. (Here are tips for navigating the media.)

You do not need to be a policy expert to call your rep’s office. All you need to do is say who you are and where you live, and (briefly) what you’re concerned about: “My name is [x] and my Zip code is [x]. I’m calling because I want [the rep] to know that I…”

If you can’t speak to someone, leave a message. If you can’t leave a message, write an email. Try again tomorrow.

“I called once before and the staffer on the phone was mean.”

It happens. There are rotten people in every profession on the planet. And the way some members of Congress behave, it would not be shocking to find out that their staffers are nasty and negligent, too.

But it is their literal baseline job to hear your concerns. Make them do it, regardless of their attitude.

Most staffers I speak to are polite, even when I’m strenuously complaining. Don’t let your fear of encountering a rude person stop you from speaking up. You might even find that it’s actually pretty cool to be able to confront someone who’s harming you or your neighbors—how often do we get to do that and call it good citizenship?

“There’s no point; we’re helpless and our calls don’t make a difference.”

Ok. Say you’re right. What have you lost if you make a call anyway? Five minutes out of your day? You just spent that much time writing and then deleting a comment on your cousin’s smarmy husband’s Facebook post.

Even if you think it’s useless, making the call can’t hurt. Get out of the comment section and try acting in solidarity with your more optimistic friends. Plus, you can prove to yourself that it’s not your own fear or lack of knowledge hiding under the claim that you are helpless.

“It’s just me; it doesn’t matter what only one person does.”

Imagine millions of people all sitting at home thinking this to ourselves and then doing nothing instead of taking one small action that, along with protests and other forms of resistance, collectively drives Congress to do its job.

I believe in all of us, so I believe in you.