Staying informed about issues can be very difficult. With all the different news sources available, how do you know which ones are legitimate and which ones are trustworthy?
First, check out mainstream publications and the publications recommended by interest groups you believe in. For example, National Right to Life often sites material from The Weekly Standard on its website. NRLC will also use material from National Review on its site as well. Both publications are conservative, mainstream and well-written.
When in doubt, check also with your local library and see what the reference librarian has to say about the publication.
When in doubt, don't use a publication as a source. And the best way to make sure something is accurate is to find a second source that says the same thing or something similar as the first.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
How to Reach Your Representative
The easiest way to reach your congressman is by e-mail or phone. If you need to send a letter through the postal system, the best way to send it is to your representative's local office. You can find the local office listed in your phonebook.
To contact your representatives by phone, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Just tell the operator your zip code and she or he will direct you to the appropriate office.
To find your representive's e-mail or website, visit http://www.house.gov/ and enter your zip code in the upper left hand corner if you don't know the name. For the Senate it's http://www.senate.gov/.
To contact your representatives by phone, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Just tell the operator your zip code and she or he will direct you to the appropriate office.
To find your representive's e-mail or website, visit http://www.house.gov/ and enter your zip code in the upper left hand corner if you don't know the name. For the Senate it's http://www.senate.gov/.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Art of Writing the Letter to the Editor
Writing letters to the editor may seem daunting but if you follow some basic rules-- I can't guarantee your letter will be published-- I can guarantee that each letter you submit will get attention.
1. Keep your letter brief-- no more than 250-300 words.
2. Pick your battles-- don't try to address the five or six errors you may have seen in a recent article. Pick the most egregious and use your space to present the reasons why the paper was wrong to print the article the way it did.
3. Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Follow the carpenter's rule to measure twice and cut once when it comes to your grammer. In this case, check the letter and check it again before sending it. Have someone else read it over and double-check your grammer. The paper may make corrections and print it anyway but don't rely on the Letters Editor to fix your mistakes.
If you write a well-written letter you will stand out. Make it a top-notch letter and you'll likely see your name in print.
1. Keep your letter brief-- no more than 250-300 words.
2. Pick your battles-- don't try to address the five or six errors you may have seen in a recent article. Pick the most egregious and use your space to present the reasons why the paper was wrong to print the article the way it did.
3. Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Follow the carpenter's rule to measure twice and cut once when it comes to your grammer. In this case, check the letter and check it again before sending it. Have someone else read it over and double-check your grammer. The paper may make corrections and print it anyway but don't rely on the Letters Editor to fix your mistakes.
If you write a well-written letter you will stand out. Make it a top-notch letter and you'll likely see your name in print.
Welcome
This site will (I hope) challenge you to become more politically active. Please feel free to ask questions and offer advice.
Welcome to The Instant Activist
Welcome to The Instant Activist
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