How To Get Involved

Most Americans never take the time to get involved with politics. Even those that do rarely go beyond making an occasional trip to the ballot box. Even those that have a vested interest in specific legislation or regulations take action, thinking that such things are better left to professional lobbyists and “Washington insiders.” Very few ever actually write letters, meet with elected officials or otherwise take action in the political realm.

However, former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill used to say that “all politics is local.” And the debate over postal reform is no exception to this rule. While it is true that lobbyists and other government affairs officials in Washington play an important role, their influence is mitigated by one crucial factor: they can’t vote for your member of Congress. A corollary of O’Neill’s rule is that political candidates need to “go where the voters are.” This is where the role of grassroots activity comes into play.

Quite simply, jobs mean votes. Any politician that does not pay attention to the major industries in his or her district is almost certainly doomed to failure. That is why printers must master the art of grassroots politics and show their elected officials the importance of their industry and its economic impact.

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