Why Keep Going?
I’ve been writing emails and making phone calls to my two senators and my congressman every week since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. All three of my representatives are MAGA. They very seldom respond to my emails and phone calls, and when they do, it’s usually a form letter that either doesn’t address my concern or states that they disagree. “Thanks for contacting our office. Have a great day.”
Often, it feels like I’m shouting into the wind. But here’s the truth: I keep at it. And you should, too. Why? Because persistence–steady, day-in and day-out persistence–is more powerful than it looks.
Reason One: Catharsis and agency
Let’s be honest. Activism can be frustrating when your representatives seem more interested in following party lines than listening to their voters.
But writing and calling isn’t wasted energy.
“Every email sent and every call made is proof that I refuse to be silent.”
For me, it’s cathartic. Writing and calling gives me a sense of control in a chaotic political climate. Political scientists call this “internal efficacy”–the belief that your actions make a difference. People who believe this are more likely to stay engaged, and that sustained engagement keeps democracy alive.
Reason Two: Staffers Are Listening
Emails and phone calls don’t go directly to lawmakers. They’re handled by staffers, often young, early in their careers, and not yet cemented in ideology.
That’s why every respectful, fact-based message matters. Staffers log concerns, summarize themes, and brief their bosses. Even if the representative stays unmoved, the people behind the scenes are paying attention.
And sometimes influence is subtle: a staffer clicking a suggested article, a fact sticking in the back of their mind, or a note in a report that tips the balance later.
Reason Three: The Shifting Winds of Politics
Politics is never static. What seems impossible today may be inevitable tomorrow.
Civil rights, women’s suffrage, environmental protections—none were achieved overnight. They took years of steady letters, calls, protests, and meetings. Lawmakers ignored them at first. Then the pressure became too loud to ignore.
“Persistence means being ready for the moment when the tide turns.”
Your representative might rubber-stamp everything now, but the ground can shift: public opinion changes, scandals break, or leaders push something so extreme even loyal allies hesitate. Persistence ensures that when the moment comes, the record already shows where constituents stand.
Lessons From history
Civil Rights Movement: Countless letters and petitions created the conditions for groundbreaking laws.
Vietnam War: Protests and constituent calls eventually pressured leaders to pull back.
Environmental Protection: Early activists were mocked, but decades of steady pressure built today’s protections.
How to make your efforts count
Practical tips for today’s activists:
- Keep it short and respectful. Skimmed messages are remembered more than rants.
- Use facts and stories. Pair data with personal experience–it hits harder.
- Provide sources. Share credible articles or videos for context.
- Organize collectively. Recruit friends, neighbors, or groups to echo your voice.
“A single voice can be dismissed. A chorus cannot.”
Conclusion: Persistence as the heart of Democracy
At the end of the day, activism isn’t about quick wins. It’s about building accountability and refusing to give in to silence.
Even if your representative never changes their mind, you’ve changed. You’ve strengthened the habit of speaking up, of believing that your voice matters, of refusing to stay quiet.
Attributions
• OECD, Political Efficacy and Participation: An Empirical Analysis (2021).
• Forum for Effective Altruism, Talking to Congress: Can Constituents Contacting Their Representatives Make a Difference? (2020).
• Erica Chenoweth, Why Civil Resistance Works (2011).
• Hahrie Han, How to Build a Movement (World Economic Forum, 2022).
• Harvard Gazette, Why Nonviolent Resistance Beats Violent Force in Effecting Social Change (2019).
