What's More Effective?

[rucky]

These are things we can do:

[Heddi]

1. I was torn

between none are effective and all are equally effective.

I voted for the latter, only because I think that we have to do everything we can to make a difference.

In some situations, voting is definitely the most important thing you can do. Even if your vote isn't counted, the fact that you voted is a very...important gesture.

For other issues, letter writing is the way to go. You can't "vote" on an issue about Walmart, or things of that nature.

Protesting is a way to get things done after you've written letters, and before you vote.

They all have their place, and every voice counts (even if it isn't counted)

[rucky]

2. I picked protests

You can stick us in a free speech zone, but you can't throw us away.

The Civil Rights movement was the best thing to happen to Democracy since the Revolutionary War. Even - especially - when I think about it today, I'm amazed at what it accomplished.

[corporatewhore]

3. It all depends

Protests can be affective or not (like during trade talkswhere protesters physically shut down meetings) and in bolivia they forced the president outta the country through physical means
but then again washington didnt listen to us when we protested all around the world
I think that you should protest no matter if they are affective or not because you have to voice your dissent
and voting well in this system i feel like my choices are between some one who will screw me and some one who will screw me a little less.
also i dont think that it is a very democratic system we have. We can only chose between two wealthy parties with sorta similar ideologies.but i feel local level voting is important

[Qutzupalotl]

4. I picked writing letters.

It's not confrontational, like protests, so people can't easily dismiss it, and don't mindlessly put up barriers to your message.

It reaches them in their home (if it's written to a newspaper). You can provide evidence and sources. You can set up your argument with reasonable statements and then deliver the knockout blow.

Letters to congress are another thing entirely. They don't seem to do much. Faxes are better, especially if you follow up with a phone call "to make sure they received it."

Voting is powerful, but only comes once an election/referendum cycle.

Good question! I hadn't thought about comparing these before.

[Progressive420]

5. VOTING!!!

they are all great but when it comes right down to it nothing is more effective than voting.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Progressive420!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Smokie]

6. Other

Any action can be effective. The most effective are those that one does on a concerted and continious basis.

Being a part, day in and day out, of grassroots democracy is the most effective. Appearing at and speaking to your city or county leaders at their various meetings, is the best tool. Not only does it get you primed for bigger actions, it helps your community. And keeps the politcos on their toes.

[wuushew]

7. Voting

Especially in swing states.

I contributed 1/5,000th(margin of victory) of my states 11 electoral votes for Gore. So I contributed 1/5000 of 11 votes out of 267 total.

[CalebHayes]

8. 50 million of us voted and look what happened. But a 50 million...

man march on DC. Just imagine?

[Nikia]

9. They all have their place

Voting ultimately decides the outcome of elections aside from the last presidential election although with more pro voters, there wouldn't have been that problem.
Writing letters can be effective for influencing Congressmen and help decide their vote on a particuliar issue.
Protests draw public attention to the issue.

[lostnfound]

10. Talking to others. n/t

[populistmom]

11. Voting

Even if they cheat (or should I say when), if more people voted, it would make a difference, enough to overcome it.

[buycitgo]

13. I sure hope we don't have to wait til 11/4 to find out that NONE......

of these are effective.

and shouldn't another possibility be getting the NONvoters to the polls?

a HUNDRED MILLION of those......give or take

and there are HUGE niches within that, niches that could easily schwing the vote to the ABB candidate, like this one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=934348

which reminds me......