Why This Matters/Talking Points for Organizers and Bloggers
If you’re a local blogger or citizen trying to tell others why this is important, it can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re talking to the press. Use your own voice and your own ideas, but here are some ideas that motivate us at Sunlight, and we hope you use and expand upon them – and then let us know what you are saying:
- Members of Congress work for us. Every worker knows they have to share their time with their bosses. Imagine if you told your boss that you couldn’t punch in and out of work, because your time was “too private.”
- Technology has transformed the possibilities for democracy – even in a mass society, if we use technology well, we can have strong, productive relationships with our representatives.
- Democratic change only happens when lots of grassroots people get involved, and we want to be part of that change. We’d like to be part of a more active culture of citizenship.
- Over sixty percent of American workers work hourly, and almost all workers have to account for their time. Custodial workers and chain store workers punch a clock, and lawyers keep time sheets – everyone knows that they are accountable to their bosses and clients.
- This Congress has put in less work days than any other Congress since 1948. There are over 20 weeks a year where we don’t know what they do.
- For those members of Congress who are spending the strong majority of time doing the people’s work, opening up their schedule should increase public confidence in them.
(Please add your own suggestions in the comments section!)
