So You Don’t Know the Issues

We’ve been talking about the basic hurdles preventing people from participating in advocacy. Today, Abe Jacob is back to share some thoughts and recommendations from his experiences. Feeling like you don’t understand the issues well enough? Check out this post!

Traditional news outlets aren’t the only avenues for us to hear the latest on how our elected leaders are impacting our lives. With notification settings on our phones and the abundance of “Breaking News” alerts when it’s only someone doing their job, political fatigue is an overwhelming reality. When that exhaustive number of headlines is tossed your way, combined with the added commentary brought on by social media, it’s no wonder many believe they don’t understand the issues of the day let alone want to be involved in it.

First off, I get it and I hear you! 

If you know there’s a part of you that wants to get engaged, but no clue where begin, start by turning off your phone and television. Seriously, there is nothing on those devices that is going to give you initial clarity on the things that mean the most to you. Whether it’s the arts, nature, athletics, music, or even shopping, there are things we do in our everyday lives that bring us happiness. Some issues are very much on the surface of your daily life like childcare and your commute home on the roads paid for with your tax dollars. These very things can be impacted by our law makers on all levels of government and with the help of technology, being brought up to speed is easier than you might think.

Various associations and non-profit advocacy groups schedule annual lobbying days at the statehouse to engage legislators on a specific issue and remind them of its importance. As a former aide, there were many meetings I covered on behalf of my member due to scheduling conflicts. I recall the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual lobby day where their advocates dressed in purple to symbolize Alzheimer’s awareness and met with us to champion efforts that go towards helping those battling and loved ones impacted by the disease. 

The caregivers, family members, and friends shared their stories with sincere motives towards bringing added awareness, urging leaders to support research and assist caregivers that provide the day-to-day services to those with the disease. It’s one thing to send a pre-written email to legislators to try and persuade them on a topic, but I know firsthand that life experiences grab the attention of legislators and are often the reason they change their mind. 

It isn’t uncommon for the general public to use their social media resources to tap into various avenues of advocacy. Social media is used in all levels of the government advocacy and serves as a source of instant information. The kicker is determining whether the information on the specific topic is commentary, campaign rhetoric, or fact based.

A quick way to determine which of those categories the content falls into is by looking for the following:

• Who is their audience? Determine if they only say positive things about one political party while disparaging the other.

• Are they using statistics from reputable sources? If you are wanting to advocate for a healthcare issue, notice if they are referencing agencies like the Center for Disease Control or the Food and Drug Administration. 

• Are they doing the work? It is one thing to advocate for a topic, but it is another thing for a group or organization to put the work into identifying what is happening in government both on the offense and defense of the issue. If you are interested in helping the environment, the entity should be sharing precise information on what is happening in government. Examples would be updates to rules made by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Interior. Most states have similar agencies overseeing the environment on the state level. 

As you begin dipping your toe into advocacy, don’t be discouraged by feeling that you are not fully versed on the subject matter. Your passion and time are the basics needed to make meaningful change and, frankly, put you far ahead of those who are content with the status quo.

While some basic training can help you get off on the right foot, lobbying is not a science. The issues and the elected leaders change regularly and is why having advocates with a natural passion can sometimes lead to meaningful change in the lives of so many.