Thanks to Countable, I am Hearing from my U.S. Representative
@DeborahDiane (40055)
Laguna Woods, California
February 11, 2017 8:28pm CST
Just a few short weeks ago, a new app known as Countable went live. It is a website (countable.us) and phone app which allow you to tell your Senators and U.S. Representative for your District how you feel about every bill which is coming up for vote. It is available for both iPhones and Android phones. You can also access it on a computer.
The site explains every bill which is coming up for vote, including the pros and cons of each bill, and allows you to place your own "aye" or "nay" vote on it. Then, a window opens up and, if you wish, you can write a few sentences and let your Congressmen and women know the reason for your opinion. You can even say you would would support this bill more if it was modified. Share whatever you want to say, although I recommend you say it respectively, if you want your opinions to be taken seriously. It only takes a minute or two to voice your opinion on each bill.
When I began using Countable, I wondered if my Congresswoman was paying any attention to what I was saying.
Yesterday, I received three emailed letters from her, defending her position on each of three bills I had commented on using the Countable app. In her emails, she responded to specific things I had written in my email, so I know that either she or someone on her staff had read it.
Countable is empowering.
For the first time ever, I now receive emails telling me specifically what bills are going to be voted on by Congress in the coming days. I am no longer surprised to discover that Congress passed a bill which I never even knew they were considering.
After realizing that my Congresswoman is getting my messages, I sent another half dozen messages on a variety of bills to her last night.
If you have a political opinion on ANYTHING that could be voted on by Congress, you will want to join this site.
It is free, it is easy and it is the quickest way possible to contact your Congressman or woman.
I also think it is far more likely to have an effect than whining constantly on Facebook to my friends and relatives. If I don't like something, I can tell the person who is most likely to do something about it.
6 people like this
6 responses
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
12 Feb 17
This seems like a great app. I wish I had known about it before the DeVos confirmation vote. Not that it would have made any difference. Both of my senators are Republican, one is a spineless follower and the other is a public educator hater.
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
12 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic When Thom Tillis was in the state legislature he did everything he could to demonize and demoralize veteran teachers and drive them into leaving the state or the profession.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Feb 17
@DWDavis and @JamesHxstatic - My U.S. Representative is also a spineless Republican who has already voted for things such as de-funding Planned Parenthood and allowing states to dump coal mining waste into streams. She has refused to have a town hall meeting or meet with her constituents. However, she is answering my Countable messages and I am now able to know how she is voting and let my friends and neighbors know. I intend to do everything I can to make sure she is not reelected. She is considered one of the 20 most vulnerable Representatives in Congress. She won her election by only a small amount in a District which was also won by Hillary Clinton. I intend to be a thorn in her side for the next two years. (By the way, we were once close enough to her and her husband that my husband's photo was actually included in all her campaign literature the first time she ran; we live in what was a very Republican area and thought she would be a more moderate Representative than some of her competitors. Wow, were we wrong.)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Feb 17
@josie_ - I am sure you are right that some people will abuse the message boxes and leave rude messages. However, most of the comments I have seen left on the site have been issue-oriented, not personality oriented. In other words, instead of saying "my representative is an idiot" they say things such as, "I am concerned about this bill because it will hurt me or my family." That is much better.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Feb 17
@josie_ - I am making a list of all the times my local Representative votes and I plan to email it out to all my neighbors and post it on message boards when it is time to run for election again. I plan to do everything I can to defeat her.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
13 Feb 17
@DeborahDiane _But what if their representatives do the opposite of what their constituents want? Especially when it appears that special interest groups are involved?
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Feb 17
@DeborahDiane This is high tech stuff on either end . . . it's current, convenient, fast, and perhaps direct! Oh yah, Facebook is it's own thing . . . it is a place where people can whine and complain, but the message probably won't reach who it really needs to reach. With this app, it sounds like we get to have our say and get it to where it needs to go . . . and then we can know what's going on upstairs!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Feb 17
@much2say - I have found Countable to be much more effective than whining and complaining on Facebook. Now, I have a way to make sure my opinion gets to the people who count, our elected officials. While I may not be able to influence everything they do, I'll be happy if I have an influence on a few things. In addition, now I know how my Representative votes on every issue and I can let my friends and neighbors know exactly what she is doing. They can't hide from us anymore!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
3 Mar 17
Yes, I have an account on my pc.
Have you noticed, or is it just me, that there are far more things showing up on that site that seem to just be spam-like and seem to be geared to keeping us busy rather than truly informing us of important decisions?
I've voiced my opinion on several last night like that. (I've never gotten an email from anyone, though.) One was for re-naming a veteran's hospital. Why does it need to be re-named? Did the old name wear out? It honestly appears to be getting a new name to give people something to complain about. It is wasteful of money when there is no reason for re-naming it.
I suggested that congress had better ways to waste money than re-branding a building that was not being re-purposed, as well. (Maybe someone will ask me my opinion on a real issue? I doubt it!)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Mar 17
@DaddyEvil - Yes, I know what you mean. I try to only pay attention to things which are current. Sometimes things pop up which were from prior sessions, and I don't know why we should bother with those. I also skip some of the current ones which don't seem that important. I agree with you that re-naming a building is just wasteful.
I was pleased this morning, however, when my daughter who lives in Delaware texted me that she had heard from one of her Senators after she left a comment on Countable about sanctuary cities.
I am pretty sure that Congress finally is starting to realize that everything they do is now under scrutiny because of sites like Countable, and that makes it all worthwhile. I plan to continue to leave comments on the site at least once a week, just so my Senators and U.S. Representative knows we are still watching.
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
12 Feb 17
This sounds like somehting I need to do to reinforce my Reps and Senators too. I will check it out.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic - Yes, even if you agree with everything they do, I think it will encourage them if they hear that from the voters.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Feb 17
@DianneN - As we get closer to the next election, I think Countable could have a major effect on helping people stay informed. My U.S. Representative is also a Republican who has already voted for things such as de-funding Planned Parenthood and allowing states to dump coal mining waste into streams. She has refused to have a town hall meeting or meet with her constituents. However, she is answering my Countable messages and I am now able to know how she is voting and let my friends and neighbors know.
I intend to do everything I can to make sure she is not reelected. She is considered one of the 20 most vulnerable Representatives in Congress. She won her election by only a small amount in a District which was also won by Hillary Clinton. I intend to be a thorn in her side for the next two years. (By the way, we were once close enough to her and her husband that my husband's photo was actually included in all her campaign literature the first time she ran; we live in what was a very Republican area and thought she would be a more moderate Representative than some of her competitors. Wow, were we wrong. My husband does not intend to vote for her again, either.)
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246838)
• United States
16 Feb 17
@DeborahDiane Live and learn the hard way.
1 person likes this
