Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
Homeschooling mom Mariah Perrigan has been with me this week to explain some of the very creative ways that she’s helping her children to become involved with their elected representatives. Mariah, what would you say is the most effective way that you interface with your representatives?

Mariah Perrigan:
I guess the most effective way I use to communicate with my representative is any way I will commit to using! Time is a big factor with me, and a three-minute phone call to the office of my representative has been the method of choice for our family.

But please let me share something I believe will make your listeners chuckle: I was scared to call my representative’s office. I thoroughly expected to be asked to justify my intentions. But I was under conviction, and come what may, I was going to make the call. If you can believe it, a nice young man answered the phone and greeted me professionally; he took my information, thanked me, and assured me that my representative would be informed of my wishes.

Our public representatives value constituent opinion and usually distill this information to see, basically, if the majority of their constituents are in support or opposition of a given measure. When we simplify our communication with our representatives, we short-cut that process for them and make our wishes clearly understood.

Mike:
Mariah, it’s been great to have you on the program, and I hope many of our listeners are inspired to take the three minutes necessary to make their voice heard to our elected officials. Thanks so much for joining me! I’m Mike Farris.