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Downsize DC Conference Call – June 3, 2007

On the base of the Statue of Liberty, are inscribed the immortal words of Emma Lazarus . . .

What did Congress do on May 14th to the 26th?

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch…::::::Below my signature are three media announcements — two for TODAY (Friday) and one for Sunday. But today’s message is about demands: Your demands.
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:::Over the next couple of months, we at DownsizeDC.org plan to implement some important new things. These things all have one thing in common. YOU ASKED FOR THEM.
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:::The Downsize DC approach is unique. We seek to be transpartisan and populist to reach the broadest numbers of people possible. We seek campaigns and approaches that work because they reach people emotionally first. We seek to be realistically ambitious and relentlessly incremental.
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:::We seek to be non-partisan and balanced, committed to principles, not personalities and parties. And strategically, we prefer a friend or a bill already in Congress that is doing or would do the right thing.
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:::We also strongly prefer to find an “Archimedes Lever” that, with a simple push, could move the world. The Read the Bills Act combined with the One Subject at a Time Act, for example, would dramatically reform how Congress does business. And those simple, transpartisan, and populist procedural reforms would change the number and size of bills coming out of Congress — even the ultimate size of the federal government. They are, levers. 
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:::Some issues really interest us and, if we could push a button to make those certain things happen, we would. But we’re not going to be Don Quixote about it. We’re ambitious enough to stand on a principle and suggest bold action yet realistic enough to frame it in a way that gets attention and has a long-term possibility of success.
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:::Since before we launched DownsizeDC.org, we’ve been hearing from folks concerned about two pressing issues:

Last week, I appeared on two radio shows. The first with Kevin Shannon. The second with Jerry Hughes. ::::::The topic? The Real ID Act. ::::::If you want to understand what’s wrong with the Real ID Act in clear arguments and compelling soundbites, I encourage you to listen to these two programs. I’m pleased with how they turned out, and believe you’ll find them helpful. ::::::They are “attached” to this blog post in mp3 format. ::::::In one case, I even changed one of the caller’s minds! If you want to persuade someone, perhaps you could even get them to listen.

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::We admit it. We write subject lines to tease you to open the message. Problem is, we then have to provide content that justifies your curiosity. ::::::So what about “bad words?” Are we going to use bad words in this message? Are we going to shock and titillate? Well, maybe. Try on these “bad words” for size . . .

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::There are three days left in the month of May. It’s been one of our best months ever.

Please share with concerned friends . . .::::::Subject: REAL ID Trojan Horse vote possible today::::::Yesterday we told you that the immigration bill being considered in the Senate contains provisions that could entangle all U.S. employers and employees in a bureaucratic nightmare similar to what has happened with the terrorist watch list.::::::This bill contains no direct mention of the REAL ID Act, or the de facto national identity card the REAL ID Act would create, but it seems fairly clear to us that REAL ID is woven into this bill, even though it is far from clear that the REAL ID Act can even be implemented.::::::Under this legislation you are going to have to get a green-light from the federal government if you want to hire someone, or if someone wants to hire you. ::::::But what if mistakes are made by this federal system, and you can’t hire someone, or be hired, until the feds correct their errors? What if they NEVER correct their mistakes?

Subject: More evidence that YOUR pressure is working::::::Repetition is the soul of persuasion. Repetition can accomplish far more than logical argument, concrete facts, or soaring rhetoric. ::::::To be convinced of something, first people must hear it and remember it. ::::::When an idea becomes familiar it becomes far less frightening. ::::::It is at that point that the power of logic, facts, and rhetoric can begin to have an effect.::::::We have been exercising the power of repetition on the minds of the members of Congress, and it is beginning to demonstrate its power.

Downsize DC Conference Call – May 20, 2007