Monitor letters to the editor in newspapers

greenspun.com : LUSENET : I-695 Thirty Dollar License Tab Initiative : One Thread

Writing letters to the editor at newspapers in favor of 695 is a good way to reach more voters in a simple and direct way.

On a weekend trip to Yakima, I looked at some local papers while traveling and found a few anti-695 letters, some of which contained misinformation. There is a lot of useful information being posted on this web, but don't forget that not everyone has a computer to access it. Newspapers are still more universal, and, I can assure you, letters to the editor pages have high readership.

A letter-writing campaign would be a good idea, both to promote 695 and to refute the critics and spreaders of disinformation. Some pro-695 letters are also showing up, and fortunately, they have been to-the-point, well-written and non-abusive.

People I have talked to about 695 at this point, if they are aware of it (some aren't, but they don't know about other state and local issues that will be up for a vote yet, either) don't know that this issue reduces revenue only two percent. This must be made clear to people, because the scaremongers will be out there telling them vital services will be gutted.

Keep your letter reasonably short and to-the-point (many newspapers place maximum lengths on letters) and be factual. Newspapers whose official editoral stands are to oppose 695, such as the Seattle Times editorial I saw reprinted here, and the Spokane Spokesman-Review, should especially get the attention of pro 695 people.

Keep adding to this site -- I've learned a lot from it. But in your daily life, don't just preach to the choir. We can always use more converts. Letters to the editor are a good way to do this.

-- A.C. Johnson (ajohnson@thefuture.net), August 23, 1999


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